Karen Dunn knows the union fights for improvements to school buildings, more money for educational programs and worker rights.

And she knows the union fights against efforts to destroy public education, like vouchers and privatization.

But she didn't know that those efforts are funded by something called VOTE-COPE.

"I think people need to understand just what VOTE-COPE is. That it's our own political action committee, working for us," said Dunn, member of the East Syracuse-Minoa Clerical unit.

For example, VOTE-COPE funds allowed members to lobby lawmakers for improvements in the state Employees' Retirement System. One advance is that employees now are vested after five years. Previously, workers had to put in 10 years of service to be vested, which means they can receive a pension when they reach retirement age.

VOTE-COPE funds also supported the push for a new law that provides seniority protections and the right to be placed on a preferred eligibility list to teaching assistants and teacher aides who are laid off due to a BOCES program transfer.

Besides those examples, VOTE-COPE contributes to pro-education candidates; helps get school budgets passed; and advocates on behalf of public education and its employees. VOTE-COPE money can be used to help fend off attempts to privatize support services SRPs now provide in transportation, maintenance and clerical careers.

SRP challenge

More than 60 SRP local unions or SRP chapters collect for the union's voluntary political action fund. Shelvy Young-Abrams, a paraprofessional in the United Federation of Teachers, challenged the membership to more than double that number.

"Every member should contribute because every member benefits from the union's work on legislation," Young-Abrams said.

For more information on VOTE-COPE campaigns, contact your NYSUT regional office for the name of your regional VOTE-COPE coordinator.