Why Union? Why NYSUT?

What is NYSUT?

NYSUT is more than 600,000 people who work in, or are retired from, New York's schools, colleges, and healthcare facilities. We are classroom teachers, college and university faculty and professional staff, school bus drivers, custodians, secretaries, cafeteria workers, teacher assistants and aides, nurses and healthcare technicians.

• Learn more about NYSUT.

Why is NYSUT working to support charter school employees?

Schools, students, and educators all perform better when teachers and school staff receive the professional respect, support, and compensation they deserve. As a union of professionals, NYSUT has long supported teachers and school employees in their efforts to strengthen their voice on the job, improve their schools, and better their wages, benefits and working conditions. This commitment extends to all educators, regardless of the type of school in which they work.

Is it possible for charter school teachers and staff to form unions?

Charter school teachers and staff in New York have the right under federal law to form unions and bargain collectively for union contracts, just as traditional public school employees have that right under state law.

Are there charter school employees who already have unions and union contracts?

Yes. NYSUT represents 28 charter schools around the state, and the AFT is proud to currently represent teachers and support staff in over 150 public charter schools across the country. In just this past year, nearly a thousand employees at more than a dozen charter schools states voted for union representation.

Why should charter schoolt eachers and staff consider forming unions?

For the very same reasons that millions of educators in all types of schools—public, charter and private—have chosen to form unions: so you can speak with a unified voice, and therefore have more power to improve the teaching and working conditions in your schools.

In general, unionized school employees have greater power to advocate for higher pay, better health and retirement benefits, fairer treatment in the workplace and increased job security. They also have more leverage to push for effective professional development opportunities, a bigger say in curriculum decisions, and improvements in school conditions and classroom management.

What is the union’s view on charter schools?

Our national affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has always supported charter schools that embody the core principles of public education and a democratic society: equity, high academic standards, accountability, a commitment to helping all public schools improve, and the right of employees to freely choose union representation. In fact, former AFT president Albert Shanker was one of the first education leaders to champion the concept of charter schools. Shanker envisioned innovative, teacher-run laboratories of reform that would spur improvements in all public schools.

NYSUT and the AFT have raised concerns about how charter schools in New York are funded – we need an equitable funding system that provides for charter schools without taking resources and funding away from already struggling public school districts. We also have concerns about charter schools that fail to meet basic accountability standards. Some charter school operators exploit their staff, put profit ahead of students’ needs, fail to disclose essential information, and/or produce negative academic outcomes.

We have an obligation to demand accountability from low-performing charter schools, just as we must demand accountability from traditional public schools that consistently underperform. A first step is to make sure that teachers and staff in low-performing schools have a real say in school decision-making, since they are the ones who often know the most about what is needed to put a struggling school back on track.

I'm a charter school employee. How can I form a union?

Testimonials

Read on to find out why these charter school professionals said “yes” to becoming NYSUT members.

"In my four years at Health Sciences Charter School I am privileged to work with talented, dedicated staff who put students first. Being unionized allows us to collaborate with our administration on decisions that affect our jobs now and in the future. Union representation gives us the ability to stand up for what we believe in, stop arbitrary policy changes and protect the rights of all union members. I am proud to be a part of a union that creates a stable work environment through a strong union contract and job security."

─ Lesley Soules, English Teacher President, Health Sciences Teacher Association

"I was involved in the union since the very beginning. I was a part of the organizing committee that helped form the union at our school in 2017. The biggest change I have seen is the protection of our time which is so valuable. If Administration wants us to do extra work then per our contract they need to give us the time to do it. Taking away our planning time or lunch is a thing of the past. As a secondary science teacher my planning time is essential to have activities and experiments prepared for my students. I am thankful for the protections my union gives me and my members. We are no longer in fear of standing up for what is best for us, our classrooms, and our students. Our union has empowered us to have a united voice."

─ Shelaine Ress, Secondary Science Teacher, President, Global Concepts Teachers Association

"I am in my thirteenth year of teaching spending most of it at South Buffalo Charter School. When I was hired at SBCS, our union already existed. I eventually became a building representative, then an officer and now interim President. It was important to me to be involved in advocating for our members and their needs. Even in the few years I have been involved I have seen a positive change in our benefits and working conditions. Our union gives us a united voice to advocate for each other. More recently we are working towards equal and fair pay. It has been a slow process but with each contract we are able to fix the problems created by past Administration. We are currently in negotiations and look forward to another successful contract. I also value what our union does to create and establish a collaborative relationship with Administration. As a union leader, I can problem solve and address issues with Administration all while being treated as equal during the process."

─ Erin Willard, 8th Grade ELA, Secretary, South Buffalo Charter School Instructional Staff Association

"Forming a union was so important to me because I love my job. Being in a union gives us as a unit more voice to make our work environment a place we all want to contribute to every day"

─ Gabby Garfunkel, Teacher, Amber Charter School, Inwood

"A union assures an atmosphere of unity among the staff. This can help alleviate some of the everyday pressures and concerns we have with administration, as well as better define our roles within the school."

─ Jaselle Molina, Parent Engagement & Recruitment Specialist