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Delegates set course for NYSUT Resolutions address middle schools, health care, NCLB, Iraq, pensions 
April 7, 2004 A list of delegates including Cecelia McCall, PSC; Dick Iannuzzi, Central Islip TA; and John Soldini, UFT, wait to speak. Seeking to ensure that no child is left behind for any reason, delegates approved a series of resolutions aimed at taking the inequities out of the federal government's much-criticized education program and giving middle-level schools and their struggling students the tools they need. Delegates debated proposals opposing an extension of the USA Patriot Act and war and occupation in Iraq. Health care issues In a series of health-related measures, delegates committed their statewide union to seek legislation banning mandatory overtime for home-care nurses, as well as for those who practice in hospitals and other facilities. They also called for a delay in the use of irradiated meat in school lunch programs until the long-term effects of its use can be studied. With the State Education Department making plans to revise its policy on middle-level education, delegates approved a sweeping plan that emphasizes the scheduling flexibility available to districts in existing state regulations; recommends class-size limits; calls for continuation of experimental middle-level schools; and recommends SED analyze eighth-grade state test scores to determine why results have been disappointing. Reflecting a growing national concern over the shortcomings of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, delegates approved a resolution calling for full federal funding of NCLB and its mandates; a better system for determining Annual Yearly Progress; and opposition to penalizing schools based on the performance of a single sub-group of students. Delegates referred to NYSUT's Board a proposal that the union lobby for an end to the NCLB provision that requires high schools receiving federal funds to provide military recruiters with information on students. In the absence of "clear and convincing long-term evidence" that charter schools are living up to their promise, delegates supported a moratorium on the creation of any new charters and recommended ways the Legislature could minimize the financial impact of charter schools on local districts. Among 116 resolutions considered, delegates affirmed the union's longtime support for career and technical education, urging the state to give more recognition to CTE students in preparing Regents Exams and issuing diplomas. Delegates overwhelmingly approved a resolution of support and a call for increased funding for the state's teacher centers; and voted to oppose the use of uncertified teachers in any classroom. Delegates okayed measures recognizing the special needs of small locals, calling on the NYSUT Board to consider adding a director-at-large for small locals and to create a standing committee dealing with the issues facing the union's many small locals. Other measures call for assistance and encouragement to small locals under siege; and greater solidarity among NYSUT's "eclectic collection" of local unions. Concerned about the loss of faculty and staff at New York's higher education institutions - particularly at State and City University campuses - the union will continue to seek more state funds for SUNY and CUNY. Delegates pledged NYSUT to continue the fight for quality health care for all, including current and future recipients of Medicare. Iraq debate In approving a resolution of support for U.S. troops in Iraq, delegates debated - and ultimately rejected - an amendment to put NYSUT on record opposing the war and occupation of Iraq. "It's not everyone's view, but it's our duty and privilege to be able to debate this issue," said the sponsor of the amendment, Professional Staff Congress President Barbara Bowen, a NYSUT Board member. Without an amendment, Bowen said, the resolution did little more than echo the Bush administration's position on the war. Not so, argued John Soldini of the United Federation of Teachers. "This amendment plays into Bush's hands by dividing us." On another matter, the more than 2,000 delegates had to go to a rare show of hands to defeat a measure that would have committed NYSUT to oppose an expected successor to the USA Patriot Act when a voice vote was too close to call. "It's poor policy to oppose something that doesn't even exist yet," Board member Rod Sherman, president of the Plattsburgh Teachers Association, said in seeking to strike that from a resolution criticizing parts of the current Patriot Act. "There have certainly been enough press reports on Patriot II," countered PSC Vice President Steve London, who noted that Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry has opposed its extension. "I see no reason why we can't put our imprimatur on it." Delegates did call for an easing of post-9/11 restrictions that have created "an increasingly inhospitable climate" for international grad students and others studying and working in the U.S. Higher ed NYSUT will support reforms in the state's Tuition Assistance Program to provide equity for part-time students and those who are financially independent, yet most in need of financial aid. The union will promote the efforts of its national affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers, and the American Association of University Professors to protect part-time faculty as those organizations work to convince colleges to increase the proportion of full-time faculty. Delegates approved a measure that would encourage the state to recognize college attendance and related study outside class as work, allowing those on public assistance to attend college and improve chances of getting a better job without jeopardizing their temporary benefits. The union will support legislation now in both houses of the Legislature that would prevent CUNY and SUNY from using only standardized tests to assess candidates for bachelor's degrees. Health-related issues Vowing to continue the fight to provide quality health care for seniors, delegates firmly opposed efforts to privatize Medicare. They urged AARP members to withdraw their membership over the group's support of last year's deficient prescription Medicare bill in Congress and urged retirees to throw their support to the Alliance of Retired Americans, a national coalition of AFL-CIO-affiliated unions and community-based organizations. Delegates resolved to continue to fight for a better Medicare law, including access to Canadian and Western European drugs and allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. Meanwhile, the union will continue to oppose any Medicare prescription drug bill that would cause NYSUT members to lose coverage under any of the state employee health insurance plans, and will look at the issue of banning the advertising of prescription drugs. Delegates endorsed a package of provisions aimed at increasing safety in school pools, including a proposal to require that all instructors be trained in use of Automatic External Defibrillators. They also called on NYSUT to seek state legislation requiring AEDs in all public colleges and universities and at their sporting events. The union will support an increase in workers' compensation benefits in New York state; work with other labor advocates to shore up the state's unemployment insurance trust fund; and continue to look for ways to guarantee health coverage into retirement. Another resolution calls on NYSUT to seek more rights for workers who suffer musculoskeletal injuries, such as repetitive stress injuries, and to work to promote standards for healthy working conditions that include ergonomically correct equipment. Pension issues Delegates passed measures to protect current and future retirees. NYSUT will seek legislation providing that all new part-time and per diem employees be automatically enrolled in the retirement system, and give new CUNY and SUNY staff up to a year to choose a retirement plan. The union will continue to support reforms to Social Security to increase its long-term solvency, and oppose federal efforts to create individual private accounts. Delegates also directed the union to seek to:
In other business Delegates endorsed the recommendations of NYSUT's Ad Hoc Task Force on School Finances, a panel created last spring to deal with issues such as No Child Left Behind and court-ordered changes in the way New York funds public education. With occupational and physical therapists particularly at risk, NYSUT will "aggressively" seek to prevent further privatization of BOCES services. And, with classroom space in short supply in many districts, delegates endorsed a proposal to provide state aid incentives to school districts that increase the number of classrooms for BOCES programs in school construction projects, and to those that maintain leases for existing BOCES classrooms. Taking note of the landmark Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 that established the 40-hour work week, delegates committed NYSUT to join with the AFL-CIO to oppose any attempt by the Bush administration to disqualify more workers from overtime protections now provided by that act. Delegates supported proposals that would require at least two K-12 teachers on the state Board of Regents and a teacher to serve in an advisory capacity on every school board. They urged the union to commit itself to protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students from discrimination and harassment because of their sexual orientation, and continue to lobby for passage in the Legislature of the Dignity for All Students Act, a measure aimed at dealing with discrimination against students for reasons ranging from race to sexual orientation. Delegates called on the statewide union to oppose a federal marriage amendment to the U.S. constitution that would limit marriage to a union between a man and a woman. "Never in the history of our country has the constitution been amended to punish a group of people," said Alice Conroy of the Farmingdale Federation of Teachers, in support of the measure. NYSUT will support the American Labor Studies Center, a Troy-based organization that will provide curriculum materials to help teachers develop lessons about the labor movement. Among a series of procedural and technical amendments to the NYSUT constitution and bylaws that were approved, one amendment would assure that elections for delegates and alternates to the RA are consistent with the standards for elections under the federal Landrum-Griffin labor-management act. Policy extended Delegates reiterated NYSUT's support of 17 issues, reaffirming previous resolutions ranging from support of teacher centers to maintenance of health insurance and other benefits for retirees. NYSUT's support was voiced once again for the Greenburgh 11 Federation of Teachers in the Westchester County local's long battle with a non-elected school board that has been targeting union activists for 10 years. Looking to give elementary and middle-level teachers more time to deal with year-end tasks, NYSUT will continue to lobby for half-day sessions during the final five days of school. The statewide union will continue to seek protection from discrimination for members who are genetically predisposed to various medical conditions. It also recommitted itself to increasing oversight of assisted-living facilities. In all, delegates considered 116 resolutions; 77 were approved, 12 were defeated, 10 were referred to the NYSUT Board for further study; four were tabled and 13 were combined with others or withdrawn. - John Strachan |
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