Via the New York State AFL-CIO:
Contact: Darcy Wells – 518‐436‐8516 x. 240
dwells@nysaflcio.org
Manhattan, NY – At a meeting of the federation's Executive Council today, Thursday, March 5, 2015, the New York State AFL‐CIO unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the Executive Budget proposal in S2010/A3010 on education reform and called on the Governor to remove it from the state budget.
The resolution's passage brings together public sector, private sector and building trades unions in a united front against what is an attempt to erode collective bargaining and due process for teachers and other workers in our public schools.
"Today's vote by our Executive Council sends a powerful message," said Mario Cilento, President of the New York State AFL‐CIO.
"The labor movement is speaking with one very clear voice in denouncing this misguided policy and calling it what it is – an attempt to ultimately allow for circumvention of the collective bargaining process.
"The education reform section of the budget proposal would allow a receiver to nullify provisions of any contract within the targeted public schools.
"This is a direct threat to collective bargaining rights in this state. Under this proposal, any contract can be abrogated, regardless of the union, regardless of the job title. That is unacceptable.
"In addition, the proposal would roll back due process rights, which would have a chilling effect on the ability of teachers to advocate for their students.
"As the resolution points out, the proposed reforms would not address real issues in and outside the classroom that hinder student performance.
"The New York State AFL‐CIO is calling for the removal of the education reforms policy from the state budget," said Cilento.
The New York State AFL‐CIO is a federation of 3,000 affiliated public sector, private sector, and building trades unions throughout the state representing 2.5 million members, retirees and their families. Our State Federation, which is the largest and most diverse in the country, is committed to making New York work for hardworking New Yorkers. For more information on the Labor Movement in New York, visit www.nysaflcio.org.
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