Archive of RC 10 Articles

Dr. Alan Chartock, professor emeritus at the University at Albany and host of the weekly Capitol Connection series on public radio, believes that a Constitutional Convention for New York State is a very bad idea. NYSUT also warns that a Constitutional Convention would open the door to changes that could negatively effect pensions and other social programs.

To read the rest of Dr. Chartock's article, click the following link:

http://legislativegazette.com/archives/3805

Andy Pallotta, Executive Vice President of NYSUT, has asked us to make an impact by supporting #EDWALK. His recent email states,

"New York's public schools have suffered through ten years of broken promises on school funding, and we simply cannot sit by and let it continue! To make our intentions clear, NYSUT is joining with over 80 other supporters of public education from all across the state to endorse the #Edwalk from New York City to Albany to demand that the State of New York meets its obligations to our students.

This walk started this past Sunday in New York City, others are biking from

The upcoming election will likely prove to be one of the most important elections in our lifetime.  Member volunteer efforts are happening around the country.  NYSUT will be supporting this effort by organizing bus trips leaving from various points of New York to help AFT and NEA’s endorsed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in crucial areas.

The bus routes are as follows:

October 15^th:

·       There will be one bus from Long Island that will go to Philadelphia, PA.

·       There will be one bus leaving from Syracuse, stopping in Binghamton/Vestal and going to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA.

·      

The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for September 2016 through August 2017 benefit payments is 1.0%, and will begin with the September 30, 2016 payment.

An eligible retired member with an annual benefit of $18,000 or more will receive a maximum increase of $15 per month beginning with the September 2016 payment. Eligible members receiving an annual benefit under $18,000 will receive a lesser monthly increase, and the average is $5 per month.

COLA and Medicare Part B

With an expected increase in Medicare Part B premiums for 2017, Social Security recipients will likely see that the average $5

NYSUT is urging educators and parents/grandparents to review the new draft New York P-12 English Language Arts and Mathematics Learning Standards, and to weigh in during the public comment period through November 4.

NYSUT President Karen Magee stated that the draft was "a good start in the long process" to set new standards, but others have been upset that the P-2 standards were drafted before the work of the P-2 subcommittee on the task force was complete.

The new draft learning standards are available on the State Education AIMHighNY website for public review and comment. To comment, you must

NYSUT has asked members to show the union families affected by flooding in Louisiana, that we care. You can donate through NYSUT Disaster Relief. Send your contributions to NYSUT Disaster Relief Fund, 800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, NY, 12110 and they will be forwarded to the national relief effort.

Take the NYSUT Pledge to Vote. We are under attack.Voting is how we fight back.

At a time when the richest, most powerful corporate special interests in the nation have joined forces to destroy unions, to privatize public services for their own profit, and to disenfranchise and disempower working people for their own gain, VOTING is our best chance to fight back to defend our rights, our profession and our future.

Take action now by taking the NSUT Pledge to Vote. To take the pledge, go to the Member Action Center on NYSUT.org, and take the pledge. While there, see what other actions you can

If you are traveling or are planning to be out of town on election day in November, don't forget to vote before you leave! You can fill in a New York State Absentee Ballot Application and either mail it in to your Board of Elections, or bring it to your county Board of Elections office in person. If you mail the application in, you will be mailed a ballot to vote which you then send in by return mail. Your vote can be cast before you leave and you can be sure that your voice, and your vote, will be heard.

The Absentee Ballot Application is linked below - simply print out and send it in

In November 2017, NYS citizens will be asked to vote on whether there should be a Constitutional Convention. There are many wealthy people in this state who will spare no amount of expense or effort to influence change to our constitution, that will alter the balance of power and threaten rights that are guaranteed in our current constitution. Some of those rights include:

• Fundamental rights we enjoy as public employees and citizens of NY
• A sound organizational structure for state government, which if altered, could give too much power to any one branch
• Rights to workers compensation
• The right to