Joel Hirschey of the North Syracuse Education Association, and Lynnece Edmond of the Poughkeepsie Public School Teachers Association, traveled to Washington D.C., May 17 to join thousands of union members and other supporters of financial reform for a rally and march down K Street.
The event highlighted the need for financial reform, and the American Federation of Teachers' "Pink Hearts, Not Pink Slips" campaign, which calls for an infusion of federal funds to help avert massive educator layoffs. A $23 billion funding bill is currently before Congress.
The AFT is one of NYSUT's two national education affiliates.
Both Hirschey, a science teacher, and Edmond, a science and math teacher, face layoff in their districts. Hirschey addressed rally participants during the event; both he and Edmond spoke at an AFT staff meeting before the rally and marched alongside AFT president Randi Weingarten throughout the day.
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Joel Hirschey of the North Syracuse Education Association. Video by AFT.
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Lynnece Edmond of the Poughkeepsie Public School Teachers Association. Video by AFT.