Denis Hughes, President	Ed Donnelly, Director
April 7, 2008	Issue Eleven

President's MessageTEACHER TENURE

Our Federation is disturbed that school board representatives are attacking teacher tenure.    

The New York State AFL-CIO representing over 2 million union workers, our families and our retirees, strongly supports the concept of teacher tenure. Making tenure an issue after all the years it has been in place as a condition of employment seems inappropriate at best.

Tenure protects teachers after a lengthy probationary period. Tenure is not absolute; it is a guarantee of due process in the face of accusation leading to possible loss of tenure. Teachers are not different than all other civil servants who can expect tenure in the face of changing political regimes in the work place.

Therefore, this Federation urges the Legislature to continue to be affirmative of teacher tenure. A far more beneficial exercise might be an exploration of school board consolidation to foster a more efficient method of school based administration.

Call to ActionLABOR LOBBYISTS MEETING
Monday, April 7, 2008
1:00 p.m.
100 South Swan Street, Albany NY
Assemblyman Richard Gottfried will attend.
Lunch will be served.

Issue of the WeekThe New York State AFL-CIO strongly supports the following legislation:

8150 B McEneny, et al/S. 6130 B Robach

An Act to amend the retirement and social security law and the civil service law in relation to university police officers appointed by the state university.

The officers in question for whom this bill was initiated are police officers operating t the State University locations across the state. These police officers, who perform the dame duties and share the same training as other police officers seek in this bill, similar retirement benefits to the benefits enjoyed by other such officers. This bill is a matter of equity and fairness.

Therefore, this Federation urges speedy passage and enactment of this bill.

This bill has passed the Assembly and is in Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee.

Keep An Eye OnFriday April 11, 2008
Assembly Standing Committee on Children and Families Public Hearing on Child Day Care Center Closings in New York City, 250 Broadway, Assembly Hearing Room, Room 1923, 19th Floor, New York, New York, 10:00 a.m. Oral Testimony by Invitation only. Contact: Naomi Golden
(518) 455-3888

Thursday, April 24, 2008
Joint Assembly Public Hearing on The Effectiveness of Regulation of Construction and Development in NYC and the Enforcement of the Building Code and the Zoning Resolution: A Second Hearing, 250 Broadway, Assembly Hearing Room, Room 1923, 19th Floor, New York, New York, 10:00 a.m. Contact Ali Vanderhoef (518) 455-4363