NYSUT has a new web site called It's what we do.

The Senate Reforms Committee took substantial testimony today (5/10) on HB 4361, the tax bill that includes taxation of pensions on an age-related sliding scale.  The committee is slated to meet again tomorrow morning and take a little more testimony before reporting the bill to the floor.  We have been told that the Senate plans to vote on it on the Senate floor on Thursday, telling members to be prepared to stay all night.

The Governor and the legislature are taxing the pensions of retirees, raising the taxes on low-income working families and cutting education in order to fund a tax cut for large corporations!  This is not shared sacrifice!

Please call your state senator today or tomorrow to urge a “NO” vote on this unfair shift of taxes to retirees.  Click here to find your Senator’s phone number.  A phone call is better, but you may also send an email by clicking here.  Do it today!

Home of Westchester Community

 College Federation of Teachers

Local #2431

One of the events we encourage our colleagues to participate in is a letter-writing campaign. This email is to provide some guidance for the letter-writing campaign. Attached you will find a form letter in word format that you can edit as you feel fit. Hand-written letters are strongly encouraged. Please keep the following in mind:

·      include your own name and address on the letter

·      address one letter to your assemblyperson

·      address one letter to your state senator

·      Please stick to the talking points of tax extensions, a 2/3rds budget vote and support of AB1130

·      Be sure to include any personal anecdotal examples of how the cuts are impacting your jobs and the students

If you do not know who your state representatives are please see the attached document or use the following link: 192.234.213.69/amapsearch/framepage.asp

On May 10 either bring your two letters to the staff lounge at your workplace or to the union meeting after school that day. The union will provide envelopes and stamps. You may also spend your lunch in the staff lounge handwriting your letters with your colleagues and enjoying the food and drink that are provided. 

Let’s make a loud and clear statement about the current status of public education.

Sen. Carpenter Proposes Amending Constitution to Protect Workers

We work in the public sector because we care. We care about our community. We care about our neighbors, our families, and - we care about each other. And speaking with one voice is always more powerful than speaking alone. We organize as a union because we can then gain the strength to make real change. Together, we speak with one voice that no one can shake  —  and we'll be louder than our bosses, our elected officials, and those anti-government folks.

Walker thinks he can cripple our union by making payroll deduction for union dues illegal. By re-committing to our union and continuing membership, we are standing strong and sending a message: Walker can't legislate away our union, he can't decide that we don't have power, he doesn't decide – we do.

Since We Can Only Bargain For Wages, Why Be In The WSP Union?

To join in building our union, click the button below and continue your union membership and our ability to fight Walker, his agenda and the stripping of our rights. You'll be redirected to a secure website where you can sign up to continue your membership no matter what Walker says. This information is for union purposes only and will never be shared with an outside party. Deductions will only begin if payroll dues deduction is eliminated, and your information will be kept secure.

We can build our union and take back Wisconsin. It's all up to us. Who decides? We decide!

Walker thinks he can cripple our union by making payroll deduction for union dues illegal. By re-committing to our union and continuing membership, we are standing strong and sending a message: Walker can’t legislate away our union, he can’t decide that we don’t have power, he doesn’t decide – we do.

To join in building our union, click the button below and continue your union membership and our ability to fight Walker, his agenda and the stripping of our rights. You’ll be redirected to a secure website where you can sign up to continue your membership no matter what Walker says. This information is for union purposes only and will never be shared with an outside party. Deductions will only begin if payroll dues deduction is eliminated, and your information will be kept secure.

We can build our union and take back Wisconsin. It’s all up to us. Who decides? We decide!

Passed unanimously by members at the 2011 winter membership meeting on April 20, 2011.

Thank you for participating in the “We Are One” actions earlier this month.