Retirees saluted at RA breakfast for activism
Florence McCue, NYSUT ED 51- 53 at-large director, thanked retirees for their outstanding advocacy over the last few months at the Retiree ED 51-53 Contiguous breakfast meeting at the 43rd annual NYSUT Representative Assembly.
"How many of you could have imagined having half your teacher evaluation based on student test scores?" said McCue. "We understand how unfair this is, and you have been making your voices heard. I encourage you to keep it up!"
NYSUT Vice President Paul Pecorale, whose office oversees retiree issues, announced a new membership system for retiree leaders. "You asked for it so you got it!" said Pecorale.
Starting in July, lists of new retirees will be compiled, updated and distributed to retiree leaders monthly so they can quickly and easily contact new retirees. The new lists will be formattable for mailings; leaders must initially opt in. Annual lists of current retirees will continue to be distributed.
"It's critically important that we get new retirees involved and aware as early as possible," Pecorale said.
NYSUT Executive Vice President Andy Pallotta thanked retirees for their political activism. With less than a month left in the legislative session, he encouraged them to keep up the pressure.
NYSUT President Karen E. Magee, Vice President Catalina Fortino and Secretary-Treasurer Martin Messner also welcomed retirees and thanked them for their support.
Loretta Donlon, ED 51 director, saluted retirees for their outstanding advocacy, calling them "fellow warriors."
Tom Murphy, ED 53 director, encouraged members to stand strong, but proceed with caution. Joan Perrini, outgoing ED 52 director, thanked participants for their support, and introduced Rosemary Catanzariti as the new ED 52 director. Catanzariti encouraged retirees to reach out to in-service members and stay abreast of what's going on in their local districts.
Bill Friedheim and Steve Leberstein discussed the Professional Staff Congress' Social Safety Net Working Group (www.psc-cuny.org/social-safety-net). The group leads statewide workshops to educate retiree and in-service members about the value of programs like Social Security and Medicare.
DID YOU KNOW
NYSUT Retiree Services consultants serve as resources to retired members, retiree councils and in-service locals on NYSUT retiree matters.