ALBANY, N.Y. March 26, 2015 — As legislative leaders work to nail down the final details of the state education budget, parents and teachers will pack the Capitol today for a giant protest against Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s toxic ‘test-and-punish’ agenda, New York State United Teachers said.
NYSUT’s protest is designed to underscore that the “time is now” to reject Gov. Cuomo’s education agenda. The governor’s proposals hold school aid hostage; gut collective bargaining; double down on standardized testing and seize local control of schools from parents and communities.
Today’s protest will begin about 4 p.m. at the Million Dollar Staircase in the state Capitol. Protesters will unfurl a giant petition signed by more than 40,000 students, parents and teachers; deliver more than 15,000 hand-written letters and thousands of postcards, and float hundreds of messages about what all kids need on balloons around the Capitol. Other activities are also planned.
NYSUT President Karen E. Magee, Executive Vice President Andrew Pallotta, as well as students and parents, will speak. Key legislative leaders have been invited to address the protesters.
For additional information about today’s protest, contact NYSUT spokesman Carl Korn.
New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with more than 600,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.
New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with more than 600,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.