Political Action in Suffolk County – 3/15/18

We need to keep winning elections

We’re all aware that public education, labor and in particular public employees unions are facing serious threats to their very existence.   What has empowered our enemies is that we lost too many elections in the early part of this decade.  But starting about a year ago we began to see a change -- last May we won a special election with Christine Pellegrino, this fall we demonstrated the clout we could bring to the polls with the overwhelming Con-Con win.  Around the country we’re seeing progressive candidates doing better than we have seen in years.Political Action in Suffolk County – 3/15/18

We need to keep winning elections

We’re all aware that public education, labor and in particular public employees unions are facing serious threats to their very existence.   What has empowered our enemies is that we lost too many elections in the early part of this decade.  But starting about a year ago we began to see a change -- last May we won a special election with Christine Pellegrino, this fall we demonstrated the clout we could bring to the polls with the overwhelming Con-Con win.  Around the country we’re seeing progressive candidates doing better than we have seen in years.
 
If we’re going to defend labor’s rights, we must keep up the momentum.  That means winning more elections.
 
Our next chance is another special election on Long Island on April 24. NYSUT has endorsed former County Legislator Steve Stern for Assembly.  Win this, put another friend in office.
 
We’re not going to ask you to do a lot.  Everybody’s got a lot on their plate.  But with a just a little help we can win an election and continue to turn the tide.  We need only one day (see below), an hour or two from you and a few of your members.
 
As part of this campaign we’re going to be asking local leaders to contact members who live in AD 10, NYSUT will do some mailings, but we also need volunteers to make some calls and do some texting.  Below are the days and times for phones, let us know when you and your local can help either at the regional office, your office, or whatever works.  Please RSVP ASAP
 
Phone banking at regional office:
 
Monday          April 9             3:30 to 6
Tuesday         April 10          Retirees starting at 10:30, everyone else 3:30 to 6
Wednesday   April 11          3:30 to 8 (dinner will be provided)
Thursday       April 12          3:30 to 6
 
Monday          April 16          3:30 to 6
Tuesday         April 17          Retirees starting at 10:30, everyone else 3:30 to 6
Wednesday   April 18          3:30 to 6
Thursday       April 19          3:30 to 6
 
Monday          April 23          3:30 to 6
Tuesday         April 14          Retirees starting at 10:30 to 5

Shortly following a DPI proposal on school safety and a Democrat-introduced school safety bill, Governor Walker has announced a special session to consider $100 million dollars for school safety proposals.  However, unlike proposals from the DPI that call for long-term solutions aimed at school safety improvements and mental health support for students, Governor Walker’s plan militarizes the school environment.

March 16, 2018 — Early voting on the UW-Madison campus begins Monday, March 19. See here for details.

March 16, 2018 - Bow, NH

What a crazy week!  The snowstorm on Tuesday really tossed a monkey-wrench into our established schedule for town meetings and voting, illustrating like last year the need for greater flexibility in adjusting voting/meeting dates when there is seriously inclement weather.  One might also make a valid case that having had this problem two years in a row offers pretty good reason why NH should consider advance voting or opening up the use of absentee ballots.  But so long as our current Secretary of State, Bill Gardiner, remains in office, no such changes will be forthcoming.  

Colleagues,

Click here for PDF version of this update

Your Union in Action: what was going on at NTU this week?

1) DYFS – Attached is information on NTU’s Child Abuse Neglect Prevention and Protection Program.  Please review this document!  It could save your career!  We have been seeing a large number of DYFS cases every week.

Here is your source of information about the 2018 Legislative Session. See the LFT's goals for the session, catch up on our Weekly Legislative Digest, and check out the list of bills supported and opposed by the Federation.

Charter educators at Summit Academy Community School - Parma look forward to bargaining a first contract and having a voice in school decision-making.

STATE CAPITOL, MARCH 15, 2018--UHP President Bill Garrity was back at the Legislative Office Building today to testify before the Labor and Public Employees Committee over SB 461, "An Act Omitting Certain Pay From a State Employee's Final Average Salary Calculation on or After July 1, 2021."

Read his testimony. 

What does your union do for you?

See this update from AFT Secretary-Treasurer Loretta Johnson on this new benefit!