Union members living in areas impacted by Hurricane Irene, who participate in Union Plus programs may be eligible for financial assistance. Union Plus Disaster Relief Grants of $500 are available to help participants in the Union Plus Credit Card, Insurance or Mortgage programs who are facing financial hardship due to the recent severe weather. The [...]

The Schalmont Central School District is collecting children’s clothing with backpacks and supplies to help students impacted by Hurricane Irene, particularly those who live in Rotterdam Junction. Money gift cards, household items, cleaning supplies, toiletries, first aid supplies and nonperishable food are also being collected. Drop off at Jefferson Elementary School. For more information, call [...]

Here’s an item staff writer  Liza Frenette  sent via text from the bus ride home to Albany: Philippe Abraham, a UUP member who works at the University at Albany, came racing out of the last RA general session pumped up for the rally in Times Square. He said the well-orchestrated attacks against the labor movement [...]

The rally opener from Denis Hughes, president of the New York State AFL-CIO: “We are the labor movement and WE stand together and WE ARE ONE. We will NOT BE PUSHED AROUND. We will FIGHT BACK and we will STAND UP FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS!”

Kerry Clark, a teacher for 12 years and member of the Carmel TA, from 40th and Broadway: “I came here today to fight for our rights , because YOU CAN’T TAKE MY RIGHTS, I’M USING THEM!.” Her sign read: “Don’t erase our progress.”

Denise Santalis of Carmel Teachers Association stayed up all night making rally signs: “America’s future walks through the doors of our schools. Stop the cuts!” “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” Denise and her colleague, Danielle Williams, have been to the rally in Yonkers, the rally in Newburgh, the rally in Albany and [...]

Pat Copertino is on a mission: to promote a growing understanding among union members, and the public as whole, that teachers and unions are not to blame for the economic downturn, for joblessness, for budget cuts. Walking down 6th avenue to Times Square — and me trying not to step off curbs into oncoming traffic [...]

Joan Perrini, president of NYSUT’s Retiree Council 21, was carrying a sign: “We will remember in November” — although it seems much more effective when you say it as only a New Yorker can: “We’ll rememba in Novemba.” I’m just sayin’. Joan taught social studies and was a guidance counselor, spending 38 years in West [...]

I walked to the rally with NYSUT’s Floyd Cameron and Geralyn O’Reilly. Both work with NYSUT retirees. We met up with Sherice Shomo, who works for Terrence Melvin, secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO: “I’m ALWAYS ready to stand together with teachers!” she said. NYSUT is a member of the AFL-CIO, which coordinated today’s rally in Times [...]

Frank Emmett is the local president at Shelter Island school district — that’s my high school alma mater. My sister, Kathy Cogan, teaches kindergarten there. My mother, Marion Gleason, is a retired Shelter Island kindergarten teacher. Frank was hired to replace her. So, you could say, it’s all in the family, which is not far-fetched [...]