SRPs use collective strength to improve education

Over the years, New York State United Teachers has been instrumental in gaining rights and respect for School-Related Personnel. SRPs - who work in health service, transportation, clerical and technical fields, as well as the classroom - make vital contributions to education.

In the days before NYSUT was formed in 1972, support staff had a hard time keeping their jobs - never mind fighting for better working conditions for themselves or better learning conditions for kids. Today, a variety of union programs help SRPs do their jobs.

Elease Lyde remembered 1968 at Robert Fulton Elementary School: "If somebody on the school board had a friend who needed a job, I could be out of work. Things had to change."

In 1971 Lyde, then a teacher aide, asked teachers how they started the Mount Vernon Federation of Teachers. After a few meetings with an organizer from a NYSUT predecessor union, United Teachers of New York, and encouragement from the teachers, aides voted to join the federation. With union membership came raises, sick leave, and - most important - a voice.

Lack of representation spurred organization in New York City. Maria Portalatin remembered "cleaning tables and watering plants in the kindergarten class - I felt like a housekeeper" - before the paraprofessionals joined the United Federation of Teachers in New York City in 1969. This all changed after a single meeting with the late union leader Albert Shanker, then UFT president. "Al's attitude really rubbed off on teachers. They used to object to having us in the room. Now they're asking for us," Portalatin said.

A step up

Over the years, the career ladder at the New York City Board of Education has been an excellent reservoir of talent for the city's school system. Since 1970, more than 6,000 paras have achieved associates and more than 5,000 have earned bachelors degrees. The success of this program sparked similar educational incentive programs around the state. Other union-supported initiatives include:

• changes in the State Employees' Retirement System allowing employees who work 10 months of the year to buy credit for 12 months for service earned before 1990;
• modifications to the Nurse Practice Act governing who can care for children needing medical attention; and
• State Education Department guidelines on the duties of teaching aides and teaching assistants.

Committee representation

"There are so many issues facing us," said Glenn Lucas, head custodian with the Federation of United School Employees of New Rochelle. "The school budget is a big issue in many districts, and that affects negotiations, job security and privatization efforts." Lucas is a member of United Teacher's SRP Advisory Committee that channels information to the state union's officers. The committee formed in 1979.

Rosemary Losurdo, a food service worker with the Syracuse Teachers Association, said the committee provides a chance to exchange ideas and increase solidarity: "In the long run, we've got to watch out for legislation that will help make the playing field more even."

For the last 15 years, Janet Gutekunst has been watching legislation, and influencing the way bills are drafted. A bus driver with Frontier Central Employee Association in western New York, Gutekunst has volunteered with the Committee of 100, NYSUT's grassroots lobby group. "We are all public employees, and lots of things affect us." Gutekunst said. "I'd like to see SRPs get even more involved. When we speak up, NYSUT listens; and this means that legislators listen, too."

Gains on the legislative front

SRPs' biggest legislative victory came in 1986 with the passage of the "12-for-10 bill." This law standardized the system for accumulating retirement credit. Now, SRPs working a full 10-month school year receive a full year of retirement credit.

NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan Lubin, who directs the union's political action organization, said the SRP effort is needed to meet increased political challenges.

"Schools are under siege, and too often SRP members are the first casualties in budget cutbacks," Lubin said.

Come a long way

Despite old and new challenges to job security, SRPs have a history of giving 110 percent to students in their care. SRP Employee of the Year Awards, begun in 1994, are one of many ways that NYSUT recognizes the invaluable contribution of all school employees. James Jones, second in command of security in Mt. Vernon, spoke for all SRP members when he accepted the 1995 award. He pointed out that their jobs are 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Sandra Carner, who chairs the statewide SRP Advisory Committee, knows how far SRPs have come - and how much more can be accomplished.

"We're where we are today with NYSUT's support. And we're being lifted even higher with NYSUT's task force," said Carner, a paraprofessional in the Saratoga Adirondack BOCES EA.

The task force formed in September 1997 in response to an American Federation of Teachers report that called for including SRP representation in all phases of decision-making. NYSUT appointed SRP members to all standing committees and a task force to recommend other ways to broaden the SRP role.

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