ALBANY, N.Y. May 23, 2017 – New York State United Teachers congratulated elementary reading teacher Christine Pellegrino on her victory in a special election for Long Island’s 9th District Assembly seat, saying energized union volunteers helped the educator and parent overcome a 12,000-voter enrollment disadvantage and pull off a tremendous upset.
"Christine’s message resonates – it’s time to send a teacher, mom and opt-out leader to Albany to make public education policy," said NYSUT President Andy Pallotta. "She’s one of us and we’re very proud today. NYSUT volunteers made thousands of phone calls and knocked on countless doors to convince 9th District residents that Christine would put the community’s needs ahead of anything else – and they listened."
Pallotta thanked some 200 NYSUT and labor volunteers who knocked on doors in a series of weekend labor walks, and activists who made thousands of phone calls to union members on Pellegrino’s behalf. He noted that Pellegrino is part of NYSUT’s "Pipeline Project," which encourages and supports union members seeking elective office.
New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with more than 600,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.
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