Unions Rebel against second-class statusWhen Lou Cammarosano

started teaching in 1956, members of the profession barely met second-class citizen status. "Forget having any preparation time. Teachers did not have time off for lunch. Principals could call a meeting at any time in the morning or evening and, to keep your job, you had to go," said Cammarosano, who taught for 40 years in the Harrison district in Westchester County. "We were to be seen and not heard."

Original Unions

NYSTA – an NEA affiliateUnited Teachers of NY – an AFT

affiliate

Thomas Hobart

Al Shanker

Unions MergeNYSTA and UTNY agree to merge creating a new union NYSUT.

Part of the agreement was to disaffiliate with the NEA.

NEA NYNEA set up a rival organization in NYS but it did not grow like NYSUT

NYSUT GrowsNYSUT membership continues to grow as it

looks to organize professionals in and out of the field of education.

SRPs – School Related ProfessionalsUUP – United University ProfesorsSchool Nurses

NEA MergerReunitedIn 2006 NEA NY and NYSUT agree to merge

NYSUT agrees to affiliate with the NEA

ChallengesWhen NYSUT was formed in the early 1970s, the

political climate was treacherous for teachers. A three-year freeze in state aid led to severe

budget cuts. Striking teachers were being jeered and jailed; the Legislature had imposed a 2-for-1 pay loss penalty and one-year probation for striking public employees.

In 1970, the state Legislature overwhelmingly approved a bill freezing district budgets and teaching salaries in those districts defeating school budgets.

Wake-up CallAlthough Gov. Rockefeller vetoed the bill

because it negated teachers' rights under the Taylor Law, it was a preview of things to come. In 1971, the Legislature approved the Jerabek bills - which jumped teachers' probation to five years, abolished the minimum salary law, mandated urinalysis testing and prohibited school districts from granting sabbatical leaves to teachers.

For many, that was the wake-up call for a radical idea: political action

VOTE-COPE NYSTS – VOTE: Voice of Teachers in Education

UTNY – COPE: Committee on Political Education

Both political arms were funded by voluntary contributions - not dues - and both supported voter registration drives and pro-education candidates in local and state elections.

VOTE-COPEVOTE/COPE makes NYSUT one of the most powerful political forces in the state of New York.

NYSUT’s Accomplishments

In 1975, passage of a law guaranteeing tenure transfer rights and a maximum two-year probation period for teachers who switched districts

In 1977, a law providing for significantly enhanced enforcement powers for the state Public Employment Relations Board

In1978, repeal of the Taylor Law's mandatory penalty of one year's probation for any public employee who went on strike.

In1982, the state legislature passed the Triborough Amendment to the Taylor Law. The Triborough Amendment required school districts to honor the entire contract until a new agreement was reached

Permanent annual COLA in TRS & ERS pensions Pension Equity – a half-dozen early retirement incentives; pension

supplementation and health insurance protection for retirees. Creation of teacher centers (1984) and the mentor-intern program (1986)

VOTE-COPEprovides rebates to locals

Of all the VOTE/COPE monies collected:► 20% gets rebated for local assistance

programs

Rebates may be used for:School Budget Vote Campaigns

Support Candidates for Local School Board

General local union political action activities(voter registration, voter education, etc.)

A VOTE-COPE contribution to fit all budgets…

Based on payroll deduction over 26 paychecks

Per Paycheck Total Contribution $2.00 * $ 52.00 * $4.00 $104.00

$5.00 $130.00 $6.00 $156.00

*New Teachers

Don’t be the weak link…

Support our political action fund.

Donate to VOTE/COPE