While much has been done to increase participation of School-Related Personnel members in their statewide union, Tom Hobart wants more.

"I'm extremely proud of all we've done. But I see this as setting us on our way to do even more," the president of New York State United Teachers told 200 SRP leaders at their annual conference. The Year of the SRP - the theme of the leadership conference - will continue, Hobart said.

"We've got a lot farther to go," he said, noting that members need to become more involved. Specifically, he urged members to attend union meetings in their election districts. (Election districts are geographic groupings of local unions.)

In December, the statewide union's Board of Directors will elect four additional members representing School-Related Personnel. The union's board will elect the SRP members because this is an off-year for union elections. In 2000, board members will be elected by delegates to the union's annual policy-making convention.

Hobart also urged union leaders to share responsibilities and to set an adequate local dues level. "The most effective unions have everybody doing something, instead of somebody doing everything," he said. "And you get what you pay for."

He urged members, who spoke out strongly last year, to keep up the conversation.

"Keep talking and keep up the pressure, on your union and on yourselves," he urged.

National notes

When Hobart introduced the keynote speaker for the SRP conference, he noted how Loretta Johnson has led the way for School-Related Personnel involvement in the national union, the American Federation of Teachers.

Johnson, a paraprofessional in the Baltimore city schools, has been honored for her continuing advocacy for workers and children.

New York's SRP members honored Johnson, a familiar face to veteran members, with a standing ovation as she stepped to the podium.

Johnson thanked the group, saying, "When my peers stand to recognize me, that's the best honor I receive." Further, she turned the applause back to New York: "I applaud NYSUT for being the most successful state federation in our national union."

Johnson's speech urged members to use their voices for more than collective bargaining. "There's some folks in Washington, D.C. saying that our children don't need to have the kind of educational system that we have," she said, noting that calls for public funding of private schools and the private management of public services are increasing.

"If you disagree with that, you need to say it out loud." she said. She also called for more than just words in the defense of public education. "My gloves are on. I'm going to war with anybody who doesn't believe our kids deserve the same."

Other concerns

More than 60,000 of NYSUT's 400,000 members work in SRP categories, representing a wide variety of job titles in clerical, custodial, transportation, nursing and classroom jobs.

The union recognizes their contributions by choosing an Employee of the Year from the ranks. Barbara Bishop, a teaching assistant with the Schenectady Albany Schoharie BOCES Faculty Association, won that honor in 1998. Speaking at the convention of her peers, she emphasized the importance of continuing training for SRP members.

"SRPs can do it all, and we do do it all," Bishop said.

Training is a concern that cuts across job titles. And having well-trained workers is one way to fight attempts to privatize services, said Robert Porcello of West Irondequoit Maintenance and Barry Winters of the Union-Endicott Maintenance Workers Association.

Vern Cox, a bus driver with the Schalmont schools in the capital region, urged the union to continue fighting for safer working conditions, noting that benefits both staff and kids.

Karen Novinski, president of the Port Washington Paraprofessional Association on Long Island, was among members pleased the union is emphasizing training.

"It's right on target for members," Novinski said.