UUP and its affiliates: NYSUT RA 2003

Presidential hopefuls, national lawmakers, state officials and union leaders addressed NYSUT’s 31st annual Representative Assembly (RA) in Washington, D.C., with one message: Opponents of unions and public education — at both the state and federal levels — are in for the fight of their lives.

Drawing on the theme of the convention, “People, Politics and Policy: Making the Connection,” NYSUT President Thomas Hobart challenged every member to carry the union message and to counter the negative attacks on public education.

“It’s time to remind our state and our nation of all the things unions — and union members — have done and are doing for America. Millions of other workers benefit from the seeds unions have sown,” Hobart said. “Next time someone talks a little trash about unions, don’t be afraid to talk a little truth right back at them.”

In calling members to action, Hobart said: “Now is not the time to forget what our union is about or to get tired of the fight. ... Now is the time to stand up for students, patients and communities.”

Hobart’s remarks were underscored by dozens of prominent leaders, who shared their concerns with the more than 2,000 delegates attending the statewide affiliate’s policymaking convention in April.

“We are going to have to fight hard and make our voices heard … to get back on the track we were on two years ago,” said U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York) in reference to the Bush administration’s anti-public education initiatives. “Why on earth would we veer off a path that was leading to more opportunities for everyone, only to become an America that gives the advantage to just a wealthy few?”

U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), a presidential hopeful and public-school reformer, put it this way: “This administration takes money from the average-income earner of America and transfers it to the wealthy. That’s Robin Hood in reverse.

“If we can’t get America to rise up and beat that, then shame on us.”

‘Don’t Fail Us Now’

NYSUT gave delegates the facts they need to convince lawmakers to restore funds for public education.

The statewide affiliate’s new, in-depth report, Don’t Fail Us Now, released during the RA, describes how state budget cutbacks will have damaging effects on schools and campuses. It stresses that hundreds of districts are already dismantling programs to cope with an anticipated $1.24 billion cut in state aid; districts are increasing class sizes, eliminating pre-kindergarten and slashing funds for alternative education and dropout prevention programs.

The report also projects several thousand faculty positions are in jeopardy at SUNY and CUNY as a result of the proposed Executive Budget cut of some $580 million to higher education.

“Unless that money is replaced, dollar for dollar, the results will be disastrous,” Hobart said. “Layoffs of this magnitude would be like closing the equivalent of four SUNY or CUNY campuses.”

In an unprecedented call for unity, State Education Commissioner Richard Mills emphasized: “Our (students) cannot afford losses implied by this budget. ... This can’t stand. I hope this is a forceful message — let your voices be heard, together and individually. There can be no letup.”

The union acknowledged the severity of the state’s fiscal crisis. “Still, our elected leaders must show the political courage to keep public education on the right track by providing the funding our public schools and colleges need,” Hobart added.

Other business

• Several higher education resolutions were adopted by delegates:
  • NYSUT will continue to seek equity for adjunct faculty and work to secure unemployment benefits for part-timers.
  • The statewide union will seek to end political appointments of trustees to SUNY, CUNY and community colleges and to seek support for bills now in the Legislature that would prohibit trustees from working for their appointing authority.
• Delegates OK’d a constitutional amendment that allows for a dues increase of less than 4 percent, or $9, in each of the next two years. NYSUT has not had a dues increase in four of the last 10 years.
• UUPer Fazal Hussain of Brooklyn HSC was honored with a 2003 NYSUT Community Service Award. The award recognizes the contributions of NYSUT members to the growth and well-being of the communities in which they live and work.

— Karen L. Mattison, with NYSUT staff reports