I recently came across the story above and it resonated deeply, causing me to reflect upon where I place the issues and concerns that come before me on a daily basis. I recognized that the “container” I was using for the storage of colleagues’ questions, requests, problems, issues and concerns was far too small, and consequently the accumulation of what I received and stored in this too-small-a-space was becoming more and more compact–ready to burst! These overcrowded conditions contributed to my developing a skewed perspective in addition to experiencing feelings of discomfort, stress, and negativity.

These personal reflections greatly upset me because I value the work done by this union on behalf of our 600+ members. I am proud of the work that is accomplished through this office, and I know that we have extremely dedicated members who always strive to do their best for the students of this district. I also know that due to our size, there will always be matters of concern that are brought to the attention of the MTA and it is our duty and responsibility to respond.

This prompted me to do some research through my mail, phone logs and e-mails.

Over the past few months the MTA has addressed matters involving: legal concerns, investigatory interviews of MTA members conducted by administrators and attorneys, salary problems, missing credits, insurance difficulties, tenure questions, late or missed observations, letters of counsel, maternity/child care leaves, appointments to District committees, problems with testing and scoring, disciplinary referrals with regard to the District’s Code of Conduct, and confidential matters involving a variety of questionable administrative actions. What I discovered was quite a revelation. The positives far outweighed the negatives and much has been accomplished on behalf of our members. It is difficult, however, to reveal particular achievements or resolutions because much of the work is done on an individual and/or confidential basis and our members’ right to privacy is paramount.

All of this leads back to my use of a too small storage container and the subsequent feeling of being constricted; I was viewing matters from a distorted and myopic viewpoint and was missing the bigger picture. This union is comprised of dedicated and hard-working members, and we have been diligent and successful in presenting their concerns. The majority of our members recognizes the structure and function of our union and appreciates the work that is being done for the good of all. For that I am very grateful.

The tasks ahead are not small and items of concern will continue to be brought to the union’s attention on a regular basis. However, I will be viewing things through a much broader lens in order to balance my perspective and not lose sight of the good that is done on behalf of the membership. The difficulties, concerns, issues, problems, and complaints that come my way will no longer take up all the space in my in-box and distort my vision. Rather, I will seek to integrate the strengths with the weaknesses, the positives with the negatives, and the compliments with the complaints. As your president, I certainly will continue to address problems and contractual concerns, and will always work to obtain fair resolutions and ensure that our contract language is upheld.

The work of a union cannot and should not be done by the efforts of a few individuals. The time is coming close for May elections and now is the time to ask yourself where you fit as a member of the MTA. I encourage all of you to take a broader view of what it means to be a union member, try to look at issues district-wide and from the perspectives of other colleagues, recognize what it means to work “for the good of all” and please give serious consideration to running for a position this spring.