Retirees focus on union-building and pay tribute to ‘Honor Our Own’ winner
By Scott McLennan
M TA’s retired members provide an invaluable combination of expertise and action as they advocate for the teaching
profession and their fellow educators.
That was the message MTA leaders delivered
at the annual MTA Retired Members Gathering on
Sept. 28 at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and
Conference Center.
MTA President Barbara Madeloni, MTA Vice
President Janet Anderson and Executive Director-Treasurer Ann Clarke thanked the retirees for their
ongoing advocacy, from protecting workers’ rights to
fighting bad education policies.
Madeloni pointed out that there are several
ongoing battles that educators — retired and active
alike — are facing. They include attempts to reduce
the public employee pensions that educators rely on
in retirement, campaigns to lift the cap on charter
schools in Massachusetts, and continuing efforts to
introduce a new regime of high-stakes standardized
testing.
“Organizing is another word for building
relationships for concerted action,” Madeloni said.
She lauded the hundreds of retired educators on
hand — from across the state and representing the
full range of public education — for continuing to
stay connected to their union.
“We will not win the battles money to money
and cost to cost,” Madeloni said. “We will win
through member-to-member engagement. I hope that
you can teach younger members to use relationships
to build power the way you did.”
Anderson drove home the point by singling
out Retired Members Committee Co-Chair Richard
Liston for his leadership of the Everett Teachers
Association during turbulent times that led to strikes.
The strikes yielded better working conditions for
educators and better learning conditions for students.
Addressing all of the retirees, Anderson said,
“Thank you. We still need you.”
C ommittee Co-Chair Kathleen Roberts urged her fellow retirees to support the Raise Up Massachusetts ballot initiative, which would
raise revenues for public schools and transportation
projects through an increased tax rate on annual
income over $1 million.
Roberts pointed out that to qualify for the higher
tax rate, someone would need to earn more than
$19,000 per week. She joked that she didn’t know
of any Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System
checks that reached that threshold.
The annual gathering once again provided a
way for retirees to donate educational supplies and
materials to a school district working with a large
number of students in financial need. This year,
the donated goods went to the Dennis-Yarmouth
Regional School District.
Also in keeping with tradition, the Honor Our
Own Award was presented. Susan Cogliano, a retired
Stoughton science teacher, received this year’s award
for her outstanding contributions as an educator
and a union leader. Stoughton Teachers Association
President John Gunning nominated Cogliano.
Cogliano worked in the Stoughton Public
Schools for 35 years and was STA president from
2008 to 2011. She also served on the MTA Board of
Directors.
After accepting the award, Cogliano said,
“When approached with the idea to run for union
president, I was very reluctant but eventually said
yes. It certainly removed me from my comfort zone
and took me to places that I would not normally have
gone.
“I was proud to represent the STA, and I believe
that I always put the needs of our students and
rights of our members first,” she continued. “But I
could not have done it alone. We had an incredible
leadership team and our very professional and
encouraging MTA field rep, Jackie McDonough, who
brought the best out in everyone.”
Members spent the rest of the gathering attending
one or more of the workshops offered during the day,
which covered topics ranging from legal and financial
matters to unwinding with a yoga lesson.
‘I was proud to represent
the STA, and I believe that I
always put the needs of our
students and rights of our
members first. But I could
not have done it alone.’
— Susan Cogliano
Honor Our Own Award winner
Above, retired Stoughton
educator Susan Cogliano
made her way to the podium
to accept the Honor Our
Own Award. Cogliano, a
former Stoughton Teachers
Association president and
MTA Board member, was
nominated for the award by
current STA President John
Gunning. At left, Senate
District Coordinators Mo
Guernon and Kathi Rogers,
both MTA Retired members,
helped gather signatures for
the ballot initiative to raise
revenues for public education
and transportation.
Photos by Scott McLennan
