ALBANY, N.Y. Feb. 12, 2018 — Educators at the Global Concepts Charter School in Lackawanna, seeking better pay and a voice in the day-to-day decisions that affect students and staff, have voted to unionize and affiliate with New York State United Teachers.
The 99 teachers and other professionals at Global Concepts voted overwhelmingly last year to organize and form a union — the Global Concepts Charter School Teachers Association. The NYSUT Board of Directors voted Saturday to formally approve the affiliation request.
“Educators in charter schools, like educators everywhere, deserve a meaningful voice in the decisions that impact their lives as professionals and the students they care so much about,” said NYSUT President Andy Pallotta. “Like so many workers, educators at this charter see the value in joining together in a union to collectively seek higher wages, better health insurance and improved working conditions. NYSUT is looking forward to being a partner with Global Concepts’ educators — and the charter board — in improving conditions for teaching and learning, while also helping to stabilize operations at the school.”
Global Concepts is currently the ninth charter school in Western New York to be affiliated with NYSUT, which represents about three dozen charters statewide.
Pallotta credited the Global Concepts Charter School Board for respecting the will of its educators and immediately recognizing the new union. Negotiations for a first contract are already underway.
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.