NYSUT Fall Conference, 2012 Current State of Public Sector Unions

Then and Now 1950’s – 35% of working people were involved in unions Mostly private sector unions (auto industry, transportation, steel, construction) 2011 – 11.8% of working people involved in unions More public sector than private. 7.9 million workers in public sector unions vs. 7.4 million workers in private sector (2009)

Then and Now - Benefits Established benefits through collective bargaining Safe working conditions Fair wages Established working hours Health Care Pension Security Fighting to maintain benefits and union rights, established through collective bargaining PERB Triborough Amendment Tenure Seniority

Then and Now – Legislation/Issues 1935 – NLRA (National Labor Relations Act) Established collective bargaining rights for private sector unions 1967 – Taylor Law Protect public sector union rights within New York State Preserving the Triborough Amendment Tax Cap APPR Testing Right to Work States Increasing, Prohibiting Union Security Union Recertification

The Result: Public Employee Union Rights are Under Attack Throughout the Country

“Reformers” or “Deformers” … You Decide! Scott Walker – Wisconsin Collective Bargaining Michelle Rhee – Washington, D.C. Merit Pay Rahm Emanuel – Chicago Teachers Union Strike Chris Christie – New Jersey/Merit Pay Rick Kasich – Ohio Collective Bargaining Andrew Cuomo – APPR/Tax Cap/Tier 6 + MORE!

Questions for Discussion What does this mean for us as educators? How can we preserve rights and our unions? What will be our message/slogan to help us preserve our rights? How can we connect this to the community?