More than 150 NYSUT members jammed the gymnasium at the DCMO BOCES in Norwich to support their area colleagues in three locals fighting for fair contracts.

Members from many different NYSUT Southern Tier locals showed their solidarity with the Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego BOCES teachers and the Norwich city school teachers and School-Related Professionals.

"We stand with our sisters and brothers demanding fair and just contracts," said NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi, the keynote speaker at the rally. "It's time for school boards and administrators to listen to educators, address their concerns and let our schools get back to educating students without distractions."

The 140-member DCMO BOCES Teachers Association, led by President Kay White, is more than two years without a new contract and facing an administration and board making unreasonable demands at the table.

"NYSUT has a positive relationship with many BOCES across the state," Iannuzzi said. "This DCMO BOCES administration needs to learn from those examples and show respect for our members' bargaining needs and concerns."

The Norwich Education Support Staff Association, led by Trish Pepe, and the Norwich Education Association, led by Sue Fenton, have been working under expired contracts since June.

As bargaining proceeds, both locals are telling the community the stories about their members' quality work. Hundreds of homes in Norwich have lawn signs in support of the SRP contract effort.

Tim Nobiling, Oneonta TA president, also addressed the crowd, urging them to stick together, keep telling their story to the community and demand equity with the health benefits administrators receive.

As Nobiling said, "What's good for the general is also good for the army."

Besides Oneonta, other locals came from Bainbridge-Guilford, Deposit, Owego, Sidney and Sherburne-Earlville districts.

— Bernie Mulligan