NYSUT's Dick Iannuzzi stands with Gail Niparts, Lockport Education Association. Seated, from left are Joe Choma, Hawthorne Cedar Knolls FT; Debbie Torney, Auburn TA retiree; and Sally Jo Widmer of the Auburn TA.
A union is only as strong as its ability to foster two-way communication between its leadership and members. That was the message stressed by New York State United Teachers President Dick Iannuzzi in his welcome address at the Local and Retiree Council Presidents Conference.
"Communication is how we support you and how you support positions that NYSUT takes," Iannuzzi told a luncheon crowd that included hundreds of leaders from NYSUT locals and retiree councils statewide.
Iannuzzi discussed several organizational changes that have occurred over the past year to foster better communication between NYSUT and its local unions. For example, the union brought its Program Services Department under the leadership of Vice President Kathleen Donahue so retirees, School-Related Professionals and health care members would have a NYSUT officer assigned to address their concerns.
Iannuzzi also discussed the redesign of NYSUT's Web site, scheduled to launch this fall, which will offer new resources to keep members in the loop on union news and positions.
To demonstrate the importance of communication, Iannuzzi invited local and retiree leaders to address union officers from one of several microphones set up around the room. Local leaders took the opportunity to praise the union on its successful lobbying for more higher ed and teacher center funding, New York Teacher's coverage of small and rural locals and the union's leadership on finding ways to close the achievement gap.
"For higher education, it was a banner year, and I can't tell you how much we appreciate it," said William Scheuerman, president of United University Professions, NYSUT's affiliate representing academic and professional faculty at the State University of New York.
Other local leaders talked about the opportunity for networking that the Local and Retiree Council Presidents Conference provides.
"I'm here to absorb information on contracts and on problems faced by small-city districts like ours," said Lockport Education Association President Gail Niparts, a first-year president who recently settled a contract for her 535 members. "I also want to learn more about the resources NYSUT has available."