WE ARE WISCONSINA MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT IANNUZZI:
I know that many of you have closely watched the events unfolding in Wisconsin. I'm sure your mood has swayed from disbelief to disgust. As dedicated public employees, you must wonder how such animosity and venom can be aimed at teachers, educational staff, nurses, health professionals and other public employees who, like you, are serving the needs of their community. The fact that unscrupulous political leaders would use economic hardship and state fiscal crises (real or exaggerated) to advance their own ideologies and anti-union attitudes is despicable.
As members of public employee unions in New York, we might have a sense of detachment (it can't happen here) based on our experiences and our strength--but we must not take anything for granted. Current attacks on seniority and maintenance of contract language (Triborough) are attempts at weakening a union's ability to protect hard won benefits. It is not hard to imagine significant deterioration of collective bargaining rights in several states contributing to bold attempts to test the legislative waters here in our own state.
In the end, Wisconsin is New York and WE are WI!
I need you to turn your disgust and disbelief into determination and direct action. Rallies have been held around the state and more are scheduled--in fact a rally in Albany this Saturday at noon is scheduled to coincide with rallies in state capitals around the country! If you can't be in Albany, attend a rally locally and let your voice be heard. Our sisters and brothers in Wisconsin are standing up for their right to be in a union; they are standing up for union members across our nation; they are standing up for you and for me.
Join the struggle!
(Photo above taken by NYSUT's Pete Ludden outside the capitol in Madison)
Why Wisconsin Matters
