Educate NY Now! hosted a rally attended by roughly 100 educators and community members yesterday in front of the Dennison Building on Veterans Highway in Hauppauge. Thank you to Christine Hegyi, Laurie Tilmont, Debbie Rosenquist, Tony Sylvain, Nicole Taormina, Mark Karwoski, and Brian St. Pierre for representing the PJSTA at the rally.
A great interview with Karen Lewis on how the CTU won a victory for public ed.
Tuesday evening the CTU’s House of Delegates voted by roughly 98% to suspend their strike. The teachers will return to work today and sometime soon the entire membership will be voting upon the agreement.
For those of you interested, contract details can be found here.
Here is a great Daily News article about CTU President Karen Lewis.
We will have more on Chicago in the coming days as their fight for public education is sure to have a ripple effect throughout the country. For now, enjoy the video below of some of the best signs the strike had to offer. Thank you Debbie Rosenquist for finding it!
NYSUT endorsements again made the difference in most primary elections across the state. From Buffalo, where the pro-labor Sean Ryan won the Democratic primary, and thus the election, for the 149th Assembly district; to New York City, where Toby Stavisky, long-time champion of public higher ed, prevailed; to Long Island, where Republican Joe Saladino easily held off a challenge by a Tea Party candidate looking to unseat him because of his vote against Tier 6. Download your local races results.
Races are too close to call in several districts for long-term incumbents. Hinging on absentee ballots, these results are a timely reminder of the importance of voting, even by absentee if necessary.
The encouraging news for NYSUT activists, led by political action coordinators, is that across the state voters stood with champions of public education, health care and retirement security. These issues will guide the union as it kicks into high gear for the Nov. 6 election.
Once again the PJSTA is planning to be heavily involved in this year’s Comsewogue Homecoming. The schedule for homecoming, next Saturday, September 22nd, is as follows…
1:00- Parade from JFK to CHS
2:00-4:00 Carnival
4:00- Football game
If you plan on marching in the parade or if you can work the PJSTA’s table at the carnival, please let your senior building rep know or reply here in the comments. If you need a blue PJSTA tee-shirt to wear, please email Beth Dimino.
Framework for a new deal between the CTU and the CPS has been reached. They will work today to finalize the language and the CTU’s House of Delegates will vote on it tomorrow. Should they vote in favor of it the strike will be suspended and classes will resume Monday before the membership ratifies the new deal.
**Update** The teachers will not return to work Monday or Tuesday. The House of Delegates requested that the membership have time to read the agreement before the vote.
CTU Strike Photos on Flickr can be found here.
A county judge in Wisconsin struck down virtually all of Scott Walker’s law that would end collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin. The decision is sure to be appealed but it is still a temporary victory for labor.
And finally, the Chicago teachers say that when they have a contract, call them maybe…
For those of you who want more information on what they are striking for, Diane Ravitch summarizes it well…
The strike is not about pay.
It is about the conditions of teaching and learning.
It is about class size.
It is about curriculum.
It is about evaluating teachers by test scores despite any evidence that it improves education.
It is about social workers for children who need them.
It is about resources and commitment.
It is about making a commitment to give the children of Chicago the kind of education that children in the suburbs routinely get.
The children of Chicago need the same things.
You can view the CTU’s full research document here.
Additionally you may wish to read about the media’s false claim that the average CPS teacher makes $74,000.
For those of you on Facebook, use this link to help support the CTU!
Thanks to Debbie Rosenquist for passing this on to us…
While you are deciding who to vote for this fall and public education is an important issue to you, the following story may be of interest to you…
Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Paul Ryan on the CTU’s strike: “we stand with Mayor Rahm Emanuel.”
Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney then lied, that President Obama has taken the side of the union.
President Obama stuck his neck out on the line (sarcasm alert!) by having White House Press Secretary Jay Carney state that, unfathomably, he has no position on the issue…
The Official Website of the PJSTA 