Beth Kontos's guest appearances

Beth Kontos

UTL495 Straight Talk Podcast

America’s Work Force Union Podcast

Andrew Peterson

Phil Smith

Tim Ryan

Steve Snyder

Tim Coleman

Samantha Brown

James Burrows

Tony Ruiz

Randi Weingarten

Brian Kelly

Chris Martin

David Baker

Jason Parker

Matt Smith

Mike Harris

OwlTail

Dan Duncan

Maritime Trades Department Executive Secretary-Treasurer Dan Duncan was the first guest on today’s episode of the AWF Union Podcast. He spoke about the Jones Act and how it was incorporated into President Biden’s “Made in America” executive order. He also discussed supporting miners at Warrior Met Coal and fundraising for leukemia and lymphoma. Massachusetts American Federation of Teachers President Beth Kontos also joined today’s show. She spoke with host Ed “Flash” Ferenc about her past as a telephone operator, how she became involved in the union, school funding in Massachusetts and how the state successfully fought back against school vouchers.

Maritime Trades Department Executive Secretary-Treasurer Dan Duncan was the first guest on today’s episode of the AWF Union Podcast. He spoke about the Jones Act and how it was incorporated into President Biden’s “Made in America” executive order. He also discussed supporting miners at Warrior Met Coal and fundraising for leukemia and lymphoma. Massachusetts American Federation of Teachers President Beth Kontos also joined today’s show. She spoke with host Ed “Flash” Ferenc about her past as a telephone operator, how she became involved in the union, school funding in Massachusetts and how the state successfully fought back against school vouchers.

Dan Duncan (Maritime Trades Department) / Beth Kontos (Massachusetts AFT)

FACT: The Student Opportunity Act as approved by the Massachusetts Senate would add $1.4 Billion to Chapter 70 Funding by 2027.FACT: The Student Opportunity Act as approved by the Massachusetts Senate adopts ALL of the Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC) recommendations - and makes some critical adjustments.FACT: The Student Opportunity Act as approved by the Massachusetts Senate defines and addresses the needs of our low-income students, Special Education students, and English Language Learners. The legislation approved by the Massachusetts Senate also addresses increased need for guidance and psychological services AND addresses increased health insurance costs.FACT: We need to get this legislation passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives!Getting state education funding (Chapter 70) updated has been an uphill struggle. Despite the 2015 Foundation Budget Review Commission or FBRC’s recommendations, the legislature failed to pass a fair and equitable funding solution to 25 plus years of underfunding public education just over a year ago. This was a giant disappointment to those of us who had worked toward fixing the funding of public education in Massachusetts.With a broad coalition forming a partnership in January 2019, efforts to Fund Our Future through the Promise Act (for K-12 education) and Cherish Act (Higher Education) relaunched.  Throughout the Spring and Summer hearings on legislative proposals were held and finally, FINALLY, on the Joint Committee on Education supported legislation that embraced most of the FBRC’s recommendations.We’re catching up with AFT-MA President Beth Kontos about the funding legislation’s journey from Committee to the Massachusetts Senate. Beth will update us as to where we stand today. We are not quite at that finish line, so Beth will explain what needs to be done by all of us so that this important, essential legislation become law. Our students are counting on us and they cannot wait!FOR MORE INFORMATION:Fund Our Future’s explanation of the Student Opportunity Act as passed by the Massachusetts Senate.Fact Sheet from Massachusetts Legislature on Student Opportunity Act.S.2350 Bill History (including amendments) from Massachusetts LegislatureTake Action Page for the Student Opportunity Act from Fund Our Future. Suggested scripts, email forms, and legislator look-ups. Wondering who YOUR Massachusetts House Representative is?  Click on FIND MY LEGISLATOR. Thanks once again to AFT-MA President Beth Kontos for updating us on the Student Opportunity Act. We know many of you have contacted your Legislators by phone, email, or snail mail or attended a hearing or rally. There is still work to be done and we ask all of you to continue to contact your Massachusetts House Representative - as they say “early and often”. Check the UTL’s Facebook page or Five for Friday for updates on when the Massachusetts House will take up this legislation.  Working together, we can get this done!Thank you for tuning in to this Episode of Straight Talk. We hope that if you enjoy what you hear, you’ll consider subscribing to our podcast using Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. As always, we welcome your general comments and feedback. If you have suggestions for future podcast topics or if you are aware of a UTL495 member who might be willing to share experiences or expertise, send us an email at utlstraighttalk@gmail.com.

FACT: The Student Opportunity Act as approved by the Massachusetts Senate would add $1.4 Billion to Chapter 70 Funding by 2027.FACT: The Student Opportunity Act as approved by the Massachusetts Senate adopts ALL of the Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC) recommendations - and makes some critical adjustments.FACT: The Student Opportunity Act as approved by the Massachusetts Senate defines and addresses the needs of our low-income students, Special Education students, and English Language Learners. The legislation approved by the Massachusetts Senate also addresses increased need for guidance and psychological services AND addresses increased health insurance costs.FACT: We need to get this legislation passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives!Getting state education funding (Chapter 70) updated has been an uphill struggle. Despite the 2015 Foundation Budget Review Commission or FBRC’s recommendations, the legislature failed to pass a fair and equitable funding solution to 25 plus years of underfunding public education just over a year ago. This was a giant disappointment to those of us who had worked toward fixing the funding of public education in Massachusetts.With a broad coalition forming a partnership in January 2019, efforts to Fund Our Future through the Promise Act (for K-12 education) and Cherish Act (Higher Education) relaunched. Throughout the Spring and Summer hearings on legislative proposals were held and finally, FINALLY, on the Joint Committee on Education supported legislation that embraced most of the FBRC’s recommendations.We’re catching up with AFT-MA President Beth Kontos about the funding legislation’s journey from Committee to the Massachusetts Senate. Beth will update us as to where we stand today. We are not quite at that finish line, so Beth will explain what needs to be done by all of us so that this important, essential legislation become law. Our students are counting on us and they cannot wait!FOR MORE INFORMATION:<ul><li>Fund Our Future’s<a href="https://www.utl495-straighttalk.com/s/fof_soa_web.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> explanation of the Student Opportunity Act </a>as passed by the Massachusetts Senate.</li><li><a href="https://www.utl495-straighttalk.com/s/09-19_EducationFactSheet.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fact Sheet from Massachusetts Legislature </a>on Student Opportunity Act.</li><li><a href="https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S2350" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">S.2350 Bill History</a> (including amendments) from Massachusetts Legislature</li><li><a href="https://fundourfuturema.org/take-action/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Take Action Page for the Student Opportunity Act</a> from Fund Our Future. Suggested scripts, email forms, and legislator look-ups. </li><li>Wondering who YOUR Massachusetts House Representative is? Click on <a href="https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FIND MY LEGISLATOR</a>.</li></ul> Thanks once again to AFT-MA President Beth Kontos for updating us on the Student Opportunity Act. We know many of you have contacted your Legislators by phone, email, or snail mail or attended a hearing or rally. There is still work to be done and we ask all of you to continue to contact your Massachusetts House Representative - as they say “early and often”. Check the UTL’s Facebook page or Five for Friday for updates on when the Massachusetts House will take up this legislation. Working together, we can get this done!Thank you for tuning in to this Episode of Straight Talk. We hope that if you enjoy what you hear, you’ll consider subscribing to our podcast using Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. As always, we welcome your general comments and feedback. If you have suggestions for future podcast topics or if you are aware of a UTL495 member who might be willing to share experiences or expertise, send us an email at<a href="mailto:utlstraighttalk@gmail.com"> utlstraighttalk@gmail.com</a>.

Season 2-Episode 11: Funding Our Future - Updates to Student Opportunity Act with AFTMA President Beth Kontos

As our members know, United Teachers of Lowell 495, or UTL represents about 1,700 teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians, cafeteria workers, and security guards serving across the Lowell Public Schools. What some may not realize is that we are part of two larger groups - American Federation of Teachers, or AFT and AFT-MA, our state organization. It is through these larger organizations that our members’ voices are represented not only in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but across the United States.Today we had the honor of speaking with newly-elected AFT-MA President, Beth Kontos about some of the issues concerning our members here in Lowell and beyond. Beth Kontos is one of us. After finding a second career in education, Beth taught for a short time in Lynn, MA and the majority of her teaching career at Salem High School in Salem, Massachusetts. Through her commitment to the Salem Teachers Union, Beth became that local’s President in 2015 and served in that capacity until being elected AFT-MA President in the Spring of 2018.  Beth understands the challenges of classrooms here in Massachusetts because she has been there.We have been thinking about the issues that impact our schools here in Lowell. After listening to Beth’s interview, we invite and encourage you to participate in a 5-minute SurveyMonkey survey found on this link. The survey, solicits your opinion about some of the issues we hear about most frequently here in Lowell and will help us know where to prioritize our focus in the months ahead.FOR MORE INFORMATION:Our SurveyMonkey survey can be found here. We’d encourage participants to complete the survey before the end of November.AFT-MA website with information about what AFT-MA can offer our members is found here. AFT-MA also maintains a presence on Social Media (Facebook and Twitter). AFT National website can be found here.As Beth mentioned, she was interviewed shortly after being elected President of AFT-MA. The BostonGlobe interview is found here and an interview in the Salem News is found here. Thanks again to Beth Kontos for speaking with us today. Her message of empowerment and engagement for all of our members is critically important to all of us. Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in to this Episode. We welcome your general comments and feedback. If you have suggestions for future podcasts or if you are aware of a UTL member who might be willing share expertise and experiences, please email us at utlstraighttalk@gmail.com.And of course,  if you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to spread the word - or share with a friend (or two).Subscribe to UTL495-StraightTalk on Apple Podcasts

As our members know, <a href="http://utl495.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">United Teachers of Lowell 495</a>, or UTL represents about 1,700 teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians, cafeteria workers, and security guards serving across the Lowell Public Schools. What some may not realize is that we are part of two larger groups - American Federation of Teachers, or AFT and AFT-MA, our state organization. It is through these larger organizations that our members’ voices are represented not only in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but across the United States.Today we had the honor of speaking with newly-elected AFT-MA President, Beth Kontos about some of the issues concerning our members here in Lowell and beyond. Beth Kontos is one of us. After finding a second career in education, Beth taught for a short time in Lynn, MA and the majority of her teaching career at Salem High School in Salem, Massachusetts. Through her commitment to the Salem Teachers Union, Beth became that local’s President in 2015 and served in that capacity until being elected AFT-MA President in the Spring of 2018. Beth understands the challenges of classrooms here in Massachusetts because she has been there.We have been thinking about the issues that impact our schools here in Lowell. After listening to Beth’s interview, we invite and encourage you to participate in a 5-minute SurveyMonkey survey found on this <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C6H7HRV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">link</a>. The survey, solicits your opinion about some of the issues we hear about most frequently here in Lowell and will help us know where to prioritize our focus in the months ahead.<h3>FOR MORE INFORMATION:</h3><ul><li>Our SurveyMonkey survey can be found <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C6H7HRV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. We’d encourage participants to complete the survey before the end of November.</li><li>AFT-MA website with information about what AFT-MA can offer our members is found <a href="http://www.aftma.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. AFT-MA also maintains a presence on Social Media (Facebook and Twitter). </li><li>AFT National website can be found <a href="https://www.aft.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>As Beth mentioned, she was interviewed shortly after being elected President of AFT-MA. The BostonGlobe interview is found <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/04/29/local-teachers-union-elects-salem-instructor-new-president/6t5sKa3lNUl8p7epzLqbmK/story.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> and an interview in the Salem News is found <a href="https://www.salemnews.com/news/local_news/teachers-union-president-to-lead-state-organization/article_0b319e40-e570-5fca-afa4-a7061627a333.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.</li></ul> Thanks again to Beth Kontos for speaking with us today. Her message of empowerment and engagement for all of our members is critically important to all of us. Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in to this Episode. We welcome your general comments and feedback. If you have suggestions for future podcasts or if you are aware of a UTL member who might be willing share expertise and experiences, please email us at utlstraighttalk@gmail.com.And of course, if you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to spread the word - or share with a friend (or two).<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/utl495-straight-talk-podcast/id1420159195?mt=2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe to UTL495-StraightTalk on Apple Podcasts</a>

Episode 19: A Conversation With AFT-MA President Beth Kontos