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MBTA urges board to reach bargaining deal on Article 21 before parcel tax campaign
Summary
Representatives of the Mill Valley Teachers Association told the board they are not organizing members tonight so the board can complete closed‑session business, and urged trustees to reach agreement on Article 21 before the parcel tax campaign begins, saying teacher support is essential to passing the measure.
Representatives of the Mill Valley Teachers Association addressed the board during public comment and urged trustees to approach bargaining with urgency so teachers will support a parcel tax campaign expected next year.
An MBTA speaker told the board the union intentionally limited member organization that evening to give the board time for closed session and public hearings, but emphasized that teachers' support "is essential to the success of this parcel tax effort." The speaker argued that bargaining and the parcel tax campaign are linked and that reaching an agreement before the campaign would improve the campaign's prospects.
MBTA co‑president Erin Fraser (introduced at the meeting) also asked for board attention to Article 21 reopeners focused on compensation and class size language and urged trustees to align budget priorities to support teacher recruitment and retention. The union representative noted local cost‑of‑living pressures and cited a Marin Housing Authority figure for low‑income single‑household threshold in 2025 as $108,300 in the meeting record to illustrate the affordability gap facing teachers.
The MBTA comments were delivered as part of the night’s public comment agenda; the board did not take immediate action on bargaining items at the meeting but staff confirmed bargaining will proceed and that budget projections remain status quo until reopeners are resolved.
