Governor Bobby Jindal has signed a $24.6 billion state budget that includes an additional $36 million for public education, but vetoed a 1.5% cost of living adjustment for retired teachers, school employees and other public servants.

BESE Report – June 2015

What should have been a bombshell announcement that the State Department of Education is underfunding some charter schools with special education students while overpaying others was virtually ignored by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Our lobbyist from AFT-CT has given the following update to the recently passed budget and the upcoming Special Session of the General Assembly:

The General Assembly will go into special session next week to complete its work on the budget.  Last week, Governor Malloy told the press of his desire to roll back some of the taxes on corporations and replace them with across the board spending cuts of 1.5%.  All debt service, including pensions and retiree healthcare, would be excluded.  So far, the General Assembly has not signed off on this plan and has yet to finalize its own plan for special session. 

Attached is a copy of what 1.5% cuts would look like if the General Assembly agreed to the Governor’s plan.  These are in addition to cuts that already exist in the budget passed June 3 (cuts from the previous year’s budget). 

The 2015 NYSUT Retiree Council 43 Annual Conference will be held at 9AM on September 29, 2015 at SpringHill Suites Orlando Airport, 5828 Hazeltine National Drive, Orlando, FL 32822. We are extremely excited to welcome Karen Magee, President of NYSUT, A Union of Professionals, as our Keynote Speaker! In addition, Representatives from NYSUT, NYSUT RC 43; NYSTRS; FEA-R; and FLARA, be on hand to bring us the latest information regarding our pensions, benefits, healthcare and political action. This year’s conference is open to all NYSUT TRIF Unit Officers, Delegates and Members; Guests; Union Affiliates including AFT; NEA; FEA; AFL-CIO; ARA and invited Presenters.

Chief Negotiator Christine Shanley-Buck will be holding a meeting to discuss strategies and potential contract issues in preparation for the upcoming contract negotiations.  The meeting is open to all A&R members.

Meeting date & time: August 4^th @ 5:30 at the Union hall.  A light meal will be provided.   Please RSVP by August 3^rd to Sandy or Karen at 860-953-1316 if you plan to attend.

I'm proud to share with you a joint statement from Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and Sara Goldrick-Rab, professor of educational policy studies and sociology at UW-Madison and a member of AFT local 223, United Faculty and Academic Staff.  Randi and Sara, two committed educators and unionists, strongly condemn Scott Walker's attacks on higher education, which will slash essential state funding and threaten the bedrock of academic freedom upon which higher education depends.  Please share this statement widely and help us get the word out about the danger facing every university in the UW System, from Superior to Milwaukee.