"What do you see as NYSUT's next step? How do you see us teaming up with

AFL-CIO, AFT and NEA?" asked Nancy Juliano, a School-Related Professionals leader with the Syracuse Teachers Association.

Her question went to a panel of all six NYSUT officers at a session of the pre NYSUT RA Local & Retiree Council Presidents Conference in New York City.

NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi said the statewide union will be widening its scope of involvement.

"You cannot be a labor organization without a social agenda," he said. The union's involvement with Fair Trade practices, for example, will grow as will its concerns and advocacy for the environment and use of "green" products. Protecting America's jobs will also be a challenge, he said.

"Our challenge is to broaden the union message," Iannuzzi said.

Executive Vice President Alan Lubin said that in order for NYSUT to grow and participate on a national basis, there has to be more coalition-building.

"We have to look beyond the needs of the state organization," he said.

Internally, NYSUT will make strides to improve wages for SRPs, said NYSUT Vice President Kathleen Donahue.

"We will be calling in an advisory committee and working with them," she said. "We're working in small groups to further the cause."

In the session, the statewide officers and local union presidents also discussed peer review, higher ed funding for both public and private colleges, and pre-K-16 initiatives.