NYSUT's new secretary-treasurer is urging members to get involved in an ongoing letter-writing campaign aimed at helping public employees in Mexico City. In recent weeks, these workers have been fired, arrested and threatened with physical harm in the wake of efforts to unionize.

"Clearly, this is another example of the exploitation of workers trying to form a union, and our silence allows this to continue," said Lee Cutler, in a recent plea to NYSUT locals.

Cutler — who will be focusing this summer on helping NYSUT and its affiliates create a timely response system to civil and human rights violations worldwide — said the massive letter-writing campaign will be of significant help to the Mexican workers. He added that NYSUT is often needed to participate and lead the way in social causes, and actions such as the letter-writing campaign reflect the union's "core values."

Details of both the Mexican workers' plight and the writing campaign can be found by going to www.nysut.org and clicking on " Labor Center."