The state AFL-CIO is running their hotline all weekend just for us. Call 1 (877) 255-9417. You will get to choose to speak with your Senator, Assembly member or Governor Cuomo’s office. Do all three, because it’s a holiday weekend. You might get through, you might be able to leave a message. They are prepared to [...]

NYSUT got national recognition yesterday when our own Maria Neira was sworn in to the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. Here’s the link to NYSUT’s press release. Truly an impressive list of people were tapped. Still deeply concerned from last night’s rally in Oneonta. First, how fantastic is it that more than 300 [...]

The Alliance for Quality Education’s “Students First: Reality Tour” stopped in Oneonta this evening with NYSUT members, parents, students and community activists sharing stories about the impact of cuts to state education funding.

It seems that almost every mental health topic making headlines today  is going to be given its due during the fabulous lineup for psychologists at a coming conference. Next Tuesday is the last day to register online for the NYSPA annual convention, being held in New York City June 3-5. “We have a lot of school-related topics,” [...]

So many meetings today! Much to catch up on. The New York Times editorial against the proposed tax cap is posted under the latest. Here’s a report that shows who else advocates against the cap. Here’s some analysis that is most interesting, although I don’t like referring to students as lab rats. Some good news. [...]

NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi will be talking to broadcast journalist Susan Arbetter at 11 this morning on her “Capitol Pressroom” radio program, heard around the state at various times. No surprises as to the topics: teacher/principal evaluation and property tax cap. Our friend Frank Mauro of the Fiscal Policy Institute will also be on the [...]

Of course  congrats to those in western New York who sent the message that people don’t want to balance the budget on the backs of senior citizens. But we have got immediate trouble. I feel like a TV salesguy, and an obnoxious one at that, but you MUST act now. You need to call your [...]

There’s a lot of things wrong with a property tax cap. Lots has been said and written about the great passing rates of school budgets. But if the tax cap bill now proposed makes it into law, two-thirds of those budgets would have failed. What gets most people is that even if 59.9 percent say [...]

Here’s more video about how cuts to programs, like pre-kindergarten, are expected to hurt students. Brought to you by Students First: The Reality Tour

NYSUT’s Kathleen Donahue just told a group of health care professionals filling the convention center that “by our solidarity we are going in to see lawmakers as united unions.” Those unions are NYSUT, PEF and SEIU 1199. The advocates are in Albany today meeting with lawmakers on safe staffing rations, safe patient handling, no mandatory [...]