Want to Help?

The following eight committees carry out the policies of the BEU. Committees meet when needed, usually once a month on Mondays - see calendar for meeting dates. The committee descriptions follow. If you are interested in joining any of these committees, call 617-277-0251 or e-mail Jody Curran, BEU President

Index:
Internal Communications Committee
Community Relations Committee
Education Policy Committee
Grievance Committee
Health & Safety Committee
Logistics and Elections Committee
Membership/Benefits Committee
Negotiations Committee

The Internal Communications Committee is primarily responsible for internal communications within the BEU, mainly between the leadership and membership. This committee will:

• create and distribute the newsletter and bulletins;
• help keep up to date bulletin boards;
• oversee the e-mail bulletin board and publish on hard copy with permission;
• oversee the "Personal Contact" system;
• organize building-based "rap sessions;"
• emphasize what the work of the union needs to be, especially...
  ~ why the BEU is important to everyone, and
  ~ graphically representing the need for the BEU and its work;
• oversee the work of the Web site, brookline.massteacher.org.

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The Community Relations Committee is primarily responsible for increase in public understanding of the BEU in the role of education. This committee will:

• keep up media contacts aimed at improving public image;
• publicize accomplishments of staff and students;
• help other committees publicize what they are working on;
• work on community outreach projects such as Educator for a Day, Friend of Education, Read Across America, Public Service Announcements, Educational Cable TV program, Movie Ads, Volunteer Programs, etc.
• help determine the outcome of local, state and national elections (esp. BSC elections) and other votes in the Town or Town Meeting;
• help craft local, state and federal legislation;
• help organize community groups.

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The Education Policy Committee is primarily responsible for fostering professional growth. This committee will:

• keep membership up to date about the Massachusetts Education Reform Act;
• help coordinate appropriate Joint Labor-Management Committees;
• coordinate response to School Committee regarding Educational Policy proposals;
• develop professional development opportunities for membership;
• oversee the work of the Diversity sub-committee;
• help do research for negotiations.

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The Grievance Committee is primarily responsible for contract maintenance. This committee will:

• help members file and follow through with grievances with the BSC;
• represent members in meetings (Weingarten Rights);
• conduct monthly grievance meetings with superintendent, personnel director and principals as needed;
• oversee the Sick Leave Bank (with Sick Leave Bank co-chairs);
• educate membership about ongoing and resolved grievances;
• feed problems with contract into negotiation committee.

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The Health & Safety Committee is primarily responsible for health and safety of building occupants. This committee will:

• monitor the conditions of school building;
• advocate for protocols to ensure a healthy environment and for remedies when there is a problem;
• oversee construction and renovation projects;
• conduct Health and Safety meetings with Assistant Superintendent for Administration and Finance;
• after conducting review and informal advocacy, pass violations to the Grievance Committee to pursue.

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The Logistics and Elections Committee is primarily responsible for nominations and voting procedures as well as recruitment of BEU activists (BEU Council and Committee members). This committee will:

• recruit quality candidates for various elections;
• recruit activists and leaders as dictated by needs from other committees;
• help with logistics of all activities for other committees.

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The Membership/Benefits Committee is primarily responsible for the membership issues and union benefits. This committee will:

• conduct yearly membership drive;
• collect dues and agency fees;
• run BEU social events;
• develop financial seminars for members;
• investigate and offer new benefits to members;
• help members with benefits offered by the BEU, MTA and NEA;
• inform membership of other services and benefits.
  

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The Negotiations Committee is primarily responsible for negotiating with the BSC. This committee will:

• negotiate issues from other committees;
• find waste in SC budgets and respond to SC proposals;
• oversee JLMCs and other committees created out of the negotiations;
• maintain and improve Health Care Benefits (with Health Care chair).

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