Dear Editor,
As April 13th approaches, the Commonwealth prepares to celebrate one of the most important and historically meaningful legislation in Massachusett’s history, specifically the 2006 groundbreaking landmark healthcare law, officially known as Chapter 58 and its Health Connector, and which has become known at the federal level and universally as Obamacare.
At the time I was busy at the State House, engaged with Transportation issues, and remember the intense activity concerned with the proposed healthcare law which seemed to override all other issues. Senator Ted Kennedy was putting pressure on the legislature to pass the bill to be the foundation of the federal version of the law, while a host of state legislators were debating over the final version of the State Law when the Senate President, Robert Travaglini representing East Boston, Revere and Winthrop, took personal command of the historic issue, gave it the highest legislative priority and oversaw every aspect of the bill’s approval process up to and including Governor Mitt Romney’s signature.
There will surely be many notable and deserving dignitaries present at the April13 Faneuil Hall event celebrating 20 years of the landmark Massachusetts healthcare law. None will be more deserving than former Senate President Robert Travaglini, Obamacare’s savior.
Thank you.
John Vitagliano
On Contract Negotiations
Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter as a means of sharing information with Winthrop residents regarding the ongoing contract negotiation for members of the Winthrop Teachers Association.
At the time of print, members of the Winthrop Teachers Association members will have worked more than 150 days without a contract. Some progress has been made but other differences have yet to be resolved.
Facts you should know:
– The override last spring was not for teacher wages/increases, but to keep the schools only level funded to cover the cost of running the schools
-Winthrop Public Schools are ranked 218th out of 219 districts across Massachusetts for teacher retention. New teachers are learning how to be great teachers and then taking their skills to other districts for more money/better benefits and are unable to afford to live and work in Winthrop
– Currently some of our ESP( education support personnel) are making $21,000 per school year while working to help our most vulnerable students, and the highest earning ESP making $35,700(with a Bachelor Degree). The most recent proposal from the school committee would have Winthrop ESPs paid 18% lower than any other surrounding district.
-Surrounding school districts provide( or will provide soon) at least two weeks of paid parental leave following the birth of a child, Winthrop provides zero paid days.
As a Winthrop homeowner and tax payer, I understand that the town budget is limited by its size and lack of commercial income, but my concern for our students are drawn from the published comments in the Winthrop Pilot of Jim Letterie, the Town Council President, basically telling teachers that we can find work in other school districts if we don’t like it here. No other union – Police, Fire, Town Hall Employees – in Winthrop appear to be treated with such disrespect when it comes to bargaining.
I’m writing because of my heartfelt concern that many good teachers — in the absence of a meaningful pursuit of resolution — will take Mr. Letterie’s advice to heart. The children of Winthrop deserve to learn in a respectful environment with teachers who feel valued and respected as well.
Regards
Elizabeth Donovan
WMS Teacher