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Rally takes care of every branch Boost for NYC locals 
April 7, 2004 AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Paul Cole, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, UFT President Randi Weingarten, and NYSUT's Tom Hobart, Antonia Cortese and Ivan Tiger lead the march. See also: Photo Gallery In a dramatic showing of solidarity, more than 3,000 NYSUT members took a break from convention business to march in support of New York City union brothers and sisters working without a contract. "The theme of this year's convention is 'One tree, many branches,'" said NYSUT President Tom Hobart. "We're here to take care of every branch on that tree." Marchers took to the streets in support of the three host locals: the United Federation of Teachers in New York City schools; the Professional Staff Congress at City University; and the United College Employees of the Fashion Institute of Technology. The UFT is locked in a protracted contract battle with New York City and the city Department of Education. PSC and UCE are demanding that the state restore budget cuts. Hobart noted that 30-some locals in the state have been working without a contract since 2002. Those locals' names were scrolled on the RA's big video screen. Hobart and other officers were joined in the solidarity march by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assemblywoman Susan John, who chairs the Labor Committee.
"I wish you could be up here and see this sea of faces," said Lou Stollar (pictured, right)of the UCE at FIT from the stage. "It's a wonderful turnout ... we have always used adversity to build solidarity." UFT President Randi Weingarten (pictured, left) appreciated the NYSUT solidarity. "We all have different issues, but we stand united, with more than 500,000 members around the state" she said. "We'll keep fighting for fair conditions for the children and a fair contract for ourselves." The solidarity goes both ways. Weingarten noted that she always urges her members living on Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley to vote for local school budgets. Stopping traffic The parade of unionists literally stopped traffic for several blocks as they streamed down 53rd Street. They received cheers as they passed students and teachers on a playground outside Adolph Ochs School. "Give the teachers a contract!" yelled one group of youngsters. As marchers passed a construction site, members of Local 79 and Local 1 pumped their arms in support. Indeed, many delegates were pumped, too. "I'm here to show my support for the UFT," said Cheryl Thomas of Ausable Valley Teachers Association. "The situation they are in is despicable, degrading." Terry Dunning, a special ed teacher with the Hannibal Faculty Association, said, "Mayor Bloomberg has decided to take the 200-page contract for New York City teachers and chop it down to eight pages." Showing the statewide solidarity, the speakers included local presidents representing Long Island, the lower Hudson Valley and upstate. "We stand with you today to say you deserve no less than your colleagues around the state," said Trudy Moses of Scarsdale TA. "Tell them you want collective, not neglective bargaining." Louis Zocchia of West Islip TA told the crowd Long Island locals may be geographically close to UFTers, but their working conditions are tremendously different. "The work atmosphere (for UFTers) is nothing short of bizarre," said North Syracuse EA President Sylvia Matousek. "It is management by fear and intimidation." "Mayor Bloomberg needs to understand that contracts are not an impediment to education," said Paul Duddy of Clarkstown TA. "They facilitate education." The sea of delegates supporting their beleaguered brethren included Jonathan Putney and Anita Cafarella, both from the Massena Federation of Teachers. "New York state is number one in teacher requirements but 37th in terms of teacher compensation. We need to bring those numbers closer," said Putney. "What this mayor (Michael Bloomberg) and chancellor (Joel Klein) are trying to do not only destroys rights for the UFT, but for every teacher and every child," said Laura Pokorny, president of the Plainedge FT. "We're here because everyone came out for us," said Marcia Meirowitz, president of the Bayport-Blue Point TA, a 211-member local that went a year without a contract. "We had more than 300 people picket for us." Heartsick "The UFT is very close to my heart because for my first eight years I worked in New York City," said Matt McMullen, an English teacher and member of BBP. McMullen's salary jumped $10,000 when he moved to Bayport. "Two years ago when we were in the throes of negotiating, at a similar rally, people came down to our school to support us," said Juliette Romano, a member of the UCE at FIT. "This really lifts our spirits." UFTer George Altomare concluded the rally by leading hundreds of singers in "Solidarity Forever." "I sang it when we won collective bargaining in the 1960s," he said, "and we'll sing it forever. - Sylvia Saunders, Clarisse Butler and John Strachan |
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"It's so moving to see all your signs, especially the hand-lettered ones," said PSC President Barbara Bowen (pictured, center). "Look at them: Troy, Mohawk, Scarsdale ..."