Election Day is Almost Here!!

1. New resources to energize elections efforts in targeted congressional

districts

• PLEASE HELP US AT THE PHONE BANKS ON WEDS, OCT 10th from 3:30 on at the Middle Country Teachers' Assoc in SELDEN!!!!   
• Email me if you need directions!!!   MITA>>    Midislta@optonline.net 
• Labor Walks: MITA labor walk for Tim Bishop on Saturady  October 20th, 2012.    9AM at the MITA office.    Political action coordinators are working with Area Labor Federations to organize labor walks. Here's a list of scheduled walks with details and contact information. This weekend look for walks in Lockport, Patchogue, Poughkeepsie, Corning, Johnstown and South Glens Falls. Next weekend, labor will walk in Medina, Shirley, Brewster, Liverpool and Rochester.
  
• NYSUT's Election Guide will be mailed in the coming weeks directly to every NYSUT member. The guide includes listings of NYSUT's endorsed candidates in both federal and state elections, a comparison of Obama's and Romney's positions on various issues, including education and health care, and why it's important to vote.                     
  
• In the coming weeks, the NEA might need NYSUT members to make calls to NEA members in battleground states urging support of endorsed candidates. Watch here for details soon.
  
• Share with your members this really scary item from The Nation on Romney's desire to silence teachers unions. This is what's at stake. Urge members, friends and family to sign on and support President Obama online: barackobama.com, Educators for Obama, Nurses for Obama.
  
• Spread the word to unregistered voters: It's only two weeks until the Oct. 12 deadline to register to vote Nov. 6.

2. Chicago provides a valuable lesson

The position of the Chicago Teachers Union was bolstered by nearly two years of work engaging the community and building parental support as a way to better serve the children. When it became necessary to strike, those relationships paid extra dividends. Read this interesting analysis from the American Prospect.

3. Strides walks kick off this weekend

This is NYSUT's 11th year as a flagship sponsor of the non-competitive 5K Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks, which start this weekend at five sites: Syracuse, Binghamton, Buffalo, Waterloo and Rochester. Here's more from NYSUT.org on the events scheduled over the next month. Register online at: makingstrides.acsevents.org/nysut.

Be sure to select "NYSUT" as your company affiliation.

4. Iannuzzi sets the record straight on evaluations

Newsday's Sept. 21 editorial ("Get moving on evaluations") misses the mark so badly, it's hard to know where to begin, responded NYSUT's Dick Iannuzzi in a letter to the editor. The paper questioned the commitment of unions to make evaluations work. Iannuzzi's message will help you handle questions that come up in your own districts.

He points out that NYSUT has worked collaboratively with SED to develop a comprehensive, rigorous and fair teacher-principal evaluation system that will improve overall teacher effectiveness and enhance student learning. Read the letter here.

5. Let us know how you are using the "Getting it Right" tool kit

to boost parent/community involvement

NYSUT United is planning a story on how locals are using the "Getting it Right: Student Assessment" toolkit to engage communities. We'd love to hear how YOUR local is using the toolkit materials. Please email feedback, stories and information to ssaunder@nysutmail.org.

The Getting it Right tool kit is designed to engage parents and other stakeholders in a year-long effort of advocacy. It provides local unions with tools to initiate grassroots efforts that are owned by the community.

6. NYSHIP Empire Plan Medicare Rx change Jan. 1

NYSHIP Empire Plan retirees who have Medicare as their primary insurance will automatically be enrolled in a Part D Medicare prescription plan on Jan. 1, 2013, unless they cancel coverage. The co-pays and list of covered prescriptions will be the same or better than that offered to the in-service members. There is no coverage gap ("donut hole"). The reason for this change is the Empire Plan's ability to benefit from a 50 percent discount for brand-name drugs as part of the Affordable Care Act.

It is important that participants carefully review any information which is mailed to them by the Department of Civil Service or UnitedHealthcare, especially those who may already be enrolled in a Part D plan.

High income retirees ($85,000/ $170,000) with Medicare as their primary insurance will be subject to an Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) for Part D effective Jan. 1. This is in addition to their regular premium contribution to the Empire Plan. At this time, there is no NYSHIP Empire Plan requirement for the employer to reimburse this extra amount to the retiree. A 2012 tax rate chart can be found at www.medicare.gov/cost/. The Federal Government will post a 2013 rate chart soon.

A presentation and other materials can be found at the Department of Civil Service web site. For questions, retirees can call the Empire Plan, 877-769-7447 and press 4 on the main menu.

Short takes

• Local union leaders will undoubtedly field questions about the movie "Won't Back Down." NYSUT has posted talking points that will be helpful. Also see the AFT's response and the NEA's response to it. The movie is receiving a hearty "thumbs down" from the overwhelming majority of critics across the country. One of many reviewers quoted in the Washington Post called the film "Inept and bizarre ... a set of right-wing anti-union talking points disguised (with very limited success) as a mainstream motion-picture-type product." Here's the full Washington Post review.
  
• Urge your members to register now for "Share My Lesson." This is a free digital platform developed by AFT that allows educators to collaborate and share teaching resources and innovative ideas. Tell them to sign up by Oct. 31 to be entered in a drawing for $5,000 to help pay off student loans or a $3,500 VISA cash card. Here are helpful talking points from AFT to help local leaders answer questions about the program.
  
• At 4 p.m. Oct. 3, NYSUT offers a one-hour webinar on how to clean during communicable disease outbreaks in schools. Register at: http://www.nysut.org/eReg/CIC1012
  
• Register online for NYSUT's Community College Leadership Conference, Nov. 16-18 in Saratoga Springs. The registration deadline is Oct. 17. For information, call 800-342-9810, ext. 6297.
  
• NYSUT will send SRP Recognition Day packets only to local leaders who request them for the Nov. 20 celebration this year. Contact Margaret MacCartney, mmaccart@nysutmail.org, by Nov. 1.
  
• The 2012 annual meeting of the state TRS delegates is Nov. 4-5 in Saratoga Springs. Make sure the union is involved and that board vacancies are filled.
  
• Here is the National Board Certification application form for the 2012-13 state Albert Shanker Grant and federally funded Candidate Fee Subsidy. Deadline is Nov. 30.
  
• NYSUT and the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights again sponsor a video contest for students. Entrants create a brief video about a human rights violation and the defender(s) fighting to stop it. The deadline is Jan. 31.

TOWN HALL MEETING!!

JOIN THE CALL FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION!!

 

U.S. Representative Tim Bishop will answer your questions about public education during a telephone town hall on Wednesday, October 3^rd, 2012, at 6:30pm.  The discussion will include the following topics:

·       Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)

·       Education funding for public schools

·       Innovative schools

·       Recruiting quality educators

·       Your education questions

How it works:  As a NYSUT/NEA member in this Congressional district, you will receive a robo-call announcing and promoting the event the day before (Tuesday, October 2^nd).  You will receive a second call on the evening of Wednesday, October 3^rd, at 6:30pm to allow you to connect directly to the call and Rep. Bishop.

 

WHO:     U.S. Representative Tim Bishop (NY-1)

WHAT:  Ask questions about public education during tele-town hall meeting

WHEN:  Wednesday, October 3^rd, 2012, 6:30pm EDT

Wear RED to support CHICAGO teachers!!

Attention all MITA members:

 

SORRY FOR THE SHORT NOTICE BUT WE JUST RECEIVED THIS HERE AT THE MITA OFFICE TODAY:

 

Late last night, the Chicago Teachers Union went on strike. This came after months of intense negotiations that continued until the last hours before the strike deadline. Today, teachers, educational support personnel and community members throughout Chicago walk together on picket lines to continue to demand a contract that provides the best for students, respects educators and their work, and treats them as true partners. Despite ongoing efforts over the past weekend to reach an agreement, the CTU and the district remain divided on core issues like the best way to improve instruction, and how to ensure job security and fair compensation for educators.

Join us to show your support for the CTU and strong public schools in Chicago by wearing RED on Weds, Sept. 12.“Chicago Teachers Union is the AFT’s Local No. 1; it’s where our union was born,” AFT President Randi Weingarten said in a statement of support. “The CTU has a proud tradition of uniting and standing together to advocate and agitate for better—for students, for our communities and for our members.”

The 1.5 million members of the AFT are proud to stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in their fight to ensure that every child in Chicago’s public schools has access to a great education, and that educators and their work are valued.

Show Your Solidarity: Wear Red!
Show your support for the CTU and Chicago students by wearing red on Wednesday, Sept. 12, and send your group photos to photos@aft.org.

Additional Ways to Show Support:

• Send letters and resolutions of support.
  Mail to: Karen Lewis, President, Chicago Teachers Union, Local 1
  Attention: Audrey May 222
  Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 400
  Chicago, Il 60654
• Make a donation .
  Checks should be made payable to CTU Solidarity Fund and mailed to the address above. Credit card donations can be made here.
• Volunteer your time.
  If you are interested in volunteering your time to help CTU, sign up here.

In unity,Randi WeingartenAFT President

P.S. You can also post your expressions of support on the CTU’s Facebook page.

NYSUT PHONE BANKS ARE OPEN!

      I have signed up for some PHONE BANK time on Thursday, October 11th....If you are able to give us an hour or two that evening to make some phone calls for Tim Bishop and other NYSUT endorsed candidates, please email me at the MITA office,  MidIslTA@optonline.net   
YES!!!      There will be SNACKS provided!!!    

 

MITA is  hosting a LABOR WALK for CONGRESSMAN TIM BISHOP on SATURDAY  OCTOBER 20th, 2012......   
It will begin at the MITA office on the corner of Swezey Lane at 9AM.  
Please email us at MITA if you can join us, even for an hour or two....
MidIslTA@optonline.net
Come down, have a bagel, and help us support an elected official who is in a very tough race this year, and needs each and every vote we can get for him!!!!

NYSUT Endorses Candidates

NYSUT issues endorsements in state legislative races

   SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2012

Download endorsement list (pdf)

       ALBANY, N.Y. August 21, 2012 — New York State United Teachers today announced endorsements in nearly 200 state Senate and Assembly races, backing incumbents and challengers the 600,000-member union believes advocate for working families while fighting against policies that would harm students, their public schools and colleges, and organized labor.
NYSUT’s Board of Directors voted to issue the endorsements after a three-day, intensive endorsement conference in which political activists reviewed two years of voting records for incumbents, while also heavily weighing the working relationships that union leaders — on the local, regional and state levels — have built with their elected representatives.
       “We are living in extraordinarily complicated political and fiscal times. That was certainly reflected in the passion and resolve expressed by activists during our discussions,” said NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi. No single vote served as a litmus test. Instead, “Activists sorted through the ‘bad votes’ on Tier 6, record budget cuts and the undemocratic property tax cap, but they also weighed the important ‘wins’ — balancing votes that legislators cast on the millionaires’ tax; killing a proposed $250 million competitive grant program for school districts; dramatically increasing funding for SUNY, CUNY and community colleges; and protecting the privacy of teacher evaluations. These are votes that helped students, teachers and New York families, and can serve as building blocks for a better future.”
       NYSUT Executive Vice President Andrew Pallotta said the grassroots endorsement process — in which local union presidents and political activists make recommendations to the NYSUT Board of Directors — served as a sounding board for members’ deep disenchantment over painful budget cuts and layoffs that are jeopardizing years of progress in New York’s public education system. He noted when schools open next month, they will be operating with $1.1 billion less in state support than in 2008-09, as well as some 35,000 fewer teachers and paraprofessionals helping students learn.
“Voting records are just one way to measure a candidate’s support for the issues our members are concerned about,” Pallotta said. “We also looked hard at whether or not an incumbent or challenger is an outspoken advocate for public education and if a senator or Assembly member enjoyed excellent relationships with local leaders and are willing and able to use the bully pulpit of their office to appeal to the public on issues important to NYSUT members.”