If you're craving beef-on-weck
and sponge candy, don't be
alarmed. It's just your body telling
you that the 43rd annual NYSUT
Representative Assembly, May 1--2
in Buffalo, is officially here. It signals
the start of sampling season for
these and other Buffalo treats, and
the end of months of preparation
and anticipation for the host locals.
The Buffalo Teachers Federation;
the Buffalo Educational Support
Team; the Faculty Federation
of Erie Community College; the
Transportation Aides of Buffalo;
Substitutes United - Buffalo; and
Retiree Councils 1, 2, 3 and 44 have
worked hard to roll out the welcome
mat for thousands of NYSUT members
visiting their city.
"We'll have local retirees at each
hotel to answer delegate questions
and provide area information," said
Jo Ann Sweat, president of the
Buffalo Educational Support Team.
"In-service members from each local
will staff RA tables to welcome delegates
and offer any help they can."
The RA, NYSUT's annual policymaking
convention, promises to be
action-packed as delegates consider
50 resolutions and four amendments
to the union's constitution
over two days.
The first general session begins
at 2 p.m. Friday, followed by committee
meetings and a second session
that evening. Delegates are to elect
state delegates to the National
Education Association Board of
Directors and state in-service delegates
to the NEA RA. Voting takes
place at 10 p.m. Friday; delegates
must be registered by 5 p.m. to be
eligible to vote.
Invited speakers include American
Federation of Teachers President
Randi Weingarten; New York State
Comptroller Tom DiNapoli; Mario
Cilento, president of the New York
State AFL-CIO; and Buffalo Mayor
Byron Brown.
The RA also features performances
by local students. The
nationally award winning Medina
Mustang Marching Band, under the
direction of Jim Steele, a member of
the Medina Teachers Association,
opens the convention with the national
anthem. The Buffalo Academy
for Visual and Performing Arts jazz
band, under the direction of BTF
member David Dewitt, performs during
the "Taste of Buffalo" celebration
to honor NYSUT's constituency
award winners Friday night.
The RA concludes Saturday afternoon
at the close of the last general
session when delegates sing
"Solidarity Forever."
Rally supports labor movement
Delegates will join other union activists
at noon Friday to fight back
against Gov. Cuomo's anti-public
education and anti-labor agendas.
The rally takes place in Niagara
Square in Buffalo, a short walk from
the RA site at the Buffalo Niagara
Convention Center.
NYSUT members, activists from
the Western New York Area Labor
Federation and other local supporters,
will send a clear message that
working people, especially public servants,
deserve respect, not scorn.
Speakers include AFL-CIO Executive
Vice President Tefere Gebre, state
AFL-CIO President Cilento, NYSUT
President Karen E. Magee, CSEA
Regional Vice President Flo Trippi
and several area lawmakers.
Not at the RA? You can keep up the pressure by sending letters to the governor and other lawmakers via the NYSUT Member Action Center, mac.nysut.org.
DON'T MISS OUT
Watch for stories and photos from the RA posted on www.nysut.org/ra every day during the RA. You can also follow the action on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NYSUT. Use the hashtag #NYSUTRA to share.
Show your union pride, send a pro-labor/pro-education message, be a NYSUT United cover model, or even become a superhero, by posing with one of five lifesize photo cutouts that will be on display on the convention hall floor. And don't forget - if you snap a shot, share it at #NYSUTRA or at #AllKidsNeed.
