ALBANY, N.Y. August 8, 2014 - Union leaders from across the state will shred a contract Monday in a grassroots protest aimed at giant testing company Pearson and others who are trying to privatize — and profit from - public education.
The protest by leaders of New York State United Teachers will be held Monday, August 11, on the steps of the State Education Department, 89 Washington Ave., Albany, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. During the protest, teachers will feed the symbolic Pearson contract into paper shredders. The protest - which will be joined by New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento and United University Professions President Fred Kowal, among others - is part of NYSUT’s three-day endorsement conference, where local union presidents will weigh the voting records and make recommendations on candidates for state and federal office.
NYSUT President Karen E. Magee said the “Public Education, Not Private Profits” protest is designed to call attention to the wealthy elite who are trying to privatize public education and profit from New York students, while taking away the rights of teachers and working people.
NYSUT noted that Pearson, for example, holds a $32.8 million testing contract with the State Education Department, which prohibits teachers from talking about test questions or pointing out problems with the exams. In addition, NYSUT leaders will speak out against the hedge-fund billionaires and others from the far right who are trying to impose a corporate agenda on public schools and colleges while attacking teachers and unions, including new assaults on due-process protections against unjust dismissals.
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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