ALBANY, N.Y. Nov. 7, 2012 - New York State United Teachers today congratulated President Barack Obama and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on winning re-election, and said the 600,000-member union looks forward to working in a bipartisan fashion with Congress and the state Legislature toward solutions that benefit all New Yorkers.
"The election is over and now is the time for our state and our nation to come together. We must begin looking forward and working, in the spirit of collaboration and bipartisanship, toward solutions to the challenges that await us. As Hurricane Sandy showed, we can come together as a state and a nation to work as partners in the best interests of our communities," said NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi. "That's what we at NYSUT intend to do in the days and months ahead."
NYSUT Executive Vice President Andrew Pallotta added, "The races for Assembly and state Senate were spirited, but we must put partisan politics aside and begin focusing on solutions to the challenges facing our state. NYSUT looks forward to working with the leaders of both parties, in both houses of the Legislature and Congress, to enhance educational opportunities for all students while helping to move our economy forward."
NYSUT, the state's largest union, represents more than 600,000 teachers, school-related professionals, academic and professional faculty in higher education, professionals in education and health care and retirees. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.