Today the plight of the Chester Upland school district in Pennsylvania will air on the Ellen Show. Chester Upland is an extreme example of the devastating consequences budget cuts have on students across America. We’ve blogged about their situation before. Sara Ferguson, is a third-generation teacher and proud union member and here’s a link to where Sara [...]

OK, it’s more than a week before Christmas. Lawmakers are still deeply divided on so many issues at the national level. We thought you might like this take on it.

Early this afternoon, we heard about the tax deal being struck. While this certainly appears to be a promising step, there are lots of questions. NYSUT analysts are trying to find the answers. But, first and foremost, a big THANK YOU for your advocacy for the past year. Your attendance at rallies, your letters and postcards [...]

There’s no time to waste. CALL and FAX your state representatives today. We want lawmakers to approve a progressive income tax structure that will provide enough revenue to close the state’s deficit and restore devastating cuts to public education. Tell lawmakers any deal they make this week must combine tax fairness with restoring funding to [...]

until you celebrate your holiday? Hope you all had safe Thanksgivings and weren’t harmed in any of the shopping melees. I especially hope you got enough rest to be reinvigorated, because now things really start to ramp up. The Associated Press has this analysis about the current state of the economy. The United Federation of [...]

The New York City Central Labor Council sponsors a march for jobs and economic justice this Thursday. They promise no speeches, no rally because “it’s all been said.” It starts at 4 p.m. at Herald Square. Participants will march along Broadway to Union Square. They say it’s not just for the labor movement. It’s for [...]

Across the state, the impact of $1.3 billion in cuts to schools is sinking in. Yesterday in Yonkers teachers rallied against the cuts. Did you know that in Yonkers none of the elementary schools have librarians? that kindergarten classes  have 30-32 kids? Man, how can we allow this to happen? Of course you can find [...]

The President sends his jobs bill to Congress tonight. You can help get this bill passed by sending a letter to your lawmaker. Here’s a link to NYSUT’s letters to support the American Jobs Act. The American Federation of Teachers has started a page for people to say what kinds of jobs they would like [...]

Coincidence or ironic that this is a vacation week for me? So while I am weeding and harvesting, or canning or catching up with friends and family, I have ample time to hear about what some want to do to our future. Cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid. It bugs me how all the cuts seem [...]

Reports yesterday and this morning say President Barack Obama is willing to cut Social Security and Medicare, anything and everything to get the Republicans to agree to not let the U.S. default on its debts (raise the debt ceiling.) Here’s a link to the Wall Street Journal article that goes into great detail about the plan. [...]