One of our main initiatives this year is political action.  There has been a concerted effort over the past year to minimize what teachers do, to break the unions, and to privatize public education.  Collective bargaining is under attack, tenure is under attack, seniority rights are under attack.  And so our main initiative may be political action, but it is somewhat of a misnomer.  It's not about politics.  It's not about republicans or democrats.  It's about the issues facing teachers and public education.  It's about focusing on what's important to preserving our future, and doing anything and everything that we can to ensure that the future of public education is our vision of the future, not someone else's.

And so this Tuesday, November 8, on election day, if there's one thing to keep in mind when you head to the polls, it's that public education is under attack.  Which candidates win and which candidates lose in this "off-year" election may have a real long-term impact on our future. 

Here's what's at stake:

• The wrong winners may decide to invalidate contracts as the County Executive and majority leader of the Nassau Legislature favor.
• The wrong winners may support tax caps that limit our ability to negotiate fair salaries and to maintain our benefits and pensions.
• The wrong winners may oppose the continuation of defined benefit pensions that allow us to retire with dignity at a reasonable age and make room for the next generation of teachers.
• The wrong winners may oppose keeping an adequate police force to keep us and our neighborhoods safe.
• The wrong winners may favor the privatization of schools, water services, street repair, and modernized infrastructure in order to lower some taxes while passing the costs on to the middle class. 

NYSUT does not endorse candidates for local elections, but the Long Island Federation of Labor does.  Here is a list:

Financial relief is available for NYSUT members who suffered a loss due to Hurrican Irene.  Expenses covered by insurance do not qualify for NYSUT financial assistance, nor does any expense deemed to be a luxury item.  The guidelines and application can be found by following the link below.  The signature of the local president is required, so please contact Craig Kirchenberg upon completion of the application.

http://www.nysut.org/files/NYSUTDisasterRelief.pdf