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his is what we had to do; we had no choice.” Fifty years ago, Carole Nastars and members of the Schenectady Federation of Teachers went on strike. For 15 days, they marched, chanted and called for a new and fair contract. Twelve teachers went to prison.

In the end, they got a contract that still forms the foundation for Schenectady’s current labor agreements.

“It’s been 50 years. New teachers have no idea what happened,” said Erin Catrambone, SFT’s retiree chair. “You have this contract and here’s why. Here’s one of the main reasons why that happened.”

The 1975 Schenectady teachers’ strike was illegal under New York’s Taylor Law. It took place seven years before the 1982 Triborough Amendment, which requires employers to honor the terms and conditions of an expired agreement. It was because of this unilateral ability to change the contract that educators started the 1975–76 school year on sidewalks instead of their classrooms.

he results of NYSUT’s initial survey on the statewide bell-to-bell cellphone policy look promising: 89.7 percent of educators who responded to the online poll said they are already seeing positive change in their schools.

More than 77 percent of the educators noticed better social interactions, and 76 percent said students were more attentive in class. In fact, some educators called the ban the “best start to a school year in a decade.”

“When students put down their phones, they pick up books — and build friendships. This survey shows that phone-free schools aren’t just improving academic outcomes; they’re rebuilding the human connections that make school a safe and vibrant place to grow,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person.

hen NYSUT members sat down in July for training with the Member Organizing Institute, they knew they were looking to do good. The MOI has been around since 2017, but it ramped up this past summer as NYSUT looked to increase the number of doors knocked on and to meet with more members across the state.

Trainings were held in Albany, Rochester, Buffalo and on Long Island this summer to prepare MOIERs — or Member Organizing Institute Educator Representatives — on navigating one-on-one conversations with fellow members about the work of the union and their role in it.

“Our work as activists is essential, as we are a member-driven organization, and everything we do directly affects our members,” said Jude Jayatilleke, a member of United University Professions–Buffalo State chapter and statewide co-chair for UUP’s membership committee. “Many of our hard-won rights are under siege from privatization and other systemic pressures. That’s why we must unite and stand in solidarity around the priorities that matter to all of us.”

n October, NYSUT President Melinda Person and United University Professions President Fred Kowal visited the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry to hear from faculty, staff and students about SUNY’s proposed “Fiscal Stability Plan” for the campus.

The proposal would eliminate staff positions and graduate student support while increasing enrollment and expanding programming, inherently conflicting goals that ESF community members say are not feasible for a campus where space and resources are already limited. Funding for the college’s athletics program and its research properties around the state — which are huge draws for prospective students — may also be at risk.

Matthew Smith, director of the college’s libraries, and UUP chapter president, noted that the proposed cuts would bring ESF staffing down to levels below what the campus had almost five decades ago. “We have a lot more students now than we did in 1977, and the world has changed,” said Smith.

omen are transforming the labor movement but, as the New York State AFL-CIO Women’s Committee learned at its annual meeting, that’s always been the case.

This fall, committee members toured the Kate Mullany National Historic Site. The three-story brick house was once home to Mullany, a laundry worker who organized the first all-female labor union in 1864.

“This is a story of inspiration, and it’s a story that should be told,” said Melinda Person, NYSUT president and co-chair of the new AFL-CIO committee dedicated to women’s issues. “I am walking in a space where a powerful 19-year-old Irish immigrant came, and she conquered. She started a union of women. She created change, and she did it in the 1800s.”

Today, the state’s labor federation represents 2.5 million working New Yorkers, nearly half of whom are women. The AFL-CIO Women’s Committee was established last year to amplify women’s voices in labor and ensure that women’s issues stay front and center.

Fayetteville TA member Brandon Mendoza interviews AFT Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus for the NYSUT Truth Talks series.

YSUT recognized Hispanic Heritage Month with a timely “Truth Talks” conversation on the influence of Latinos on not only the American labor movement, but public education as well.

“From organizing strikes to demanding fair wages and humane working conditions, Hispanic labor leaders and workers have played a central role in advancing labor rights across the country,” said NYSUT Secretary-Treasurer J. Philippe Abraham. “Beyond the school walls, Hispanic leaders and communities have long fought for educational equity, bilingual education and access to higher education for all students, regardless of immigration status or socioeconomic background.”

The latest episode in NYSUT’s Truth Talks series features American Federation of Teachers Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus, the first Latina elected as an officer of the national education union affiliate. She was interviewed by Brandon Mendoza, a member of the Fayetteville Manlius Teachers Association.

Melissa Thompson is a secretary at Spackenkill High School and president of the Spackenkill Support Staff union. She was interviewed by Stacy Stoliker, president of the Rhinebeck Association of Non-Instructional Employees and a member of the NYSUT SRP Advisory Committee.

I love children and having an impact in their lives. Although I have an accounting degree, I choose to work in the counseling center at Spackenkill High School where I can greet all students and staff. Throughout each day, I am able to treat all students coming to my office space with the needed respect and kindness to get them to the correct guidance members.

I first got involved just to help out filling the vice president role. Within a short time, I ran for president and have not looked back since. I am also a member of the NYSUT SRP Advisory Committee.

ew teachers at Frontier Central School District are benefiting from a new mentoring program that focuses on building stronger connections to one another and to the district.

The program for new and untenured teachers, colloquially called “NUTs” by its founder and leader, Frontier Central Teachers Association President Amber Chandler, covers the ins and outs of teaching with lots of support and “mom-ish” advice, Chandler said.

“It’s all the things that make up your day as a teacher, but aren’t necessarily content-related,” said Chandler.

A National Board Certified Teacher, Chandler has been mentoring teachers for 15 years and literally wrote the book on helping new teachers acclimate; her manual, Everything New Teachers Need to Know but Are Afraid to Ask, was published in 2024 and is based on questions she received from her own mentees. Chandler’s latest book, Reclaiming Connection: How Schools and Families Can Nurture Belonging in a Scared New World, is due in March 2026.

Odalis P. Hidalgo, an assistant professor in the Modern Languages Department, is a member of United University Professions–SUNY Cortland Chapter

I was never surrounded by books, although I still remember the day I found, in my hands, Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince. I fell in love with the story. However; that was just one occasion. Most of my days I spent my time watching Latin-American soap operas, “telenovelas.”

To make matters worse, I never applied myself in school. My grades were less than acceptable, to the point that when I graduated from high school, one of my teachers told my father that he needed to put me in trade school where maybe, and only maybe, I might learn some arts and crafts. The only hope my parents had for me was to find a good man, get married and have children. They had to be realistic; I needed someone to provide and take care of me.

Photos: El-Wise Noisette

NYSUT President Melinda Person, second from right, with Newburgh Teachers Association President Stacy Moran, right, stand in front of the Newburgh Free Academy Career and Technical Education Center, slated to open in September 2026.

t Newburgh Free Academy, students aren’t just learning a trade; they’re preparing to take on leadership positions in the working world.

The high school’s Career Pathway program allows students to discover their own talents and skills and then explore career opportunities that might be suited to those abilities.

“There is so much demand for Career and Technical Education right now,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person. “Students love this type of learning. They find that it is relevant, that it is engaging, and that they can see themselves in future sustainable careers, so we want to make sure that every kid who wants access to these programs gets it.”

In 2024, the Newburgh Enlarged City School District began construction on a new 132,000 square foot career center adjacent to the high school that will allow the district to expand its career education capacity and add four new programs: HVAC, plumbing, electrical and veterinary technology. The $75 million project will be completed in September 2026.

eyond falling leaves and blustery days, autumn brings National School Psychology Week, an opportunity to celebrate the essential role school psychologists play in the lives of students, families and communities.

This annual celebration, sponsored by the National Association of School Psychologists, will be held Nov. 3–7. This year’s theme, “Finding Your Path,” focuses on the many ways that school psychologists serve their school communities and achieve their goals.

With training and expertise in psychology and education, and a broad scope of practice within the school setting, school psychologists are well positioned to support both students and educators. This year, with that dual mission in mind, the New York Association of School Psychologists published new guidance for its members on evaluating students for dyslexia and on effective reading instruction and interventions. Dyslexia is a learning disability that causes difficulty with reading, especially in word recognition, decoding and spelling.

It’s What We Do

5 Questions for Josephine O’Connor

I love to read, it’s basically my favorite thing to do. Reading is such a fundamental right, and it’s so closely linked with the first amendment and our right to free speech and free assembly. A lot of red flags should be popping up when someone tries to tell you what to read and what to think. Reading is really about the freedom of thought. It’s essential that educators have the right to choose appropriate reading materials and resources for their classrooms.

I love learning about history, and I read history books constantly. Zinn’s book is one of the most important works of history from the last 50 years. What I love about books is that they don’t tell you what to think. They give you a different perspective and change the way you see the world. That’s a good thing, and that’s exactly what A People’s History does — it provides new perspectives about American history. The fact that it’s been banned in other parts of the country shocked me, especially as we are coming up on the 250th anniversary of this country’s founding.

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Does holiday shopping have you stressed? Member Benefits can help.

ecent trends indicate that the retail world is promoting holiday shopping earlier and earlier, which can cause stress and anxiety among consumers. It certainly feels like we barely get into the fall before the holiday ads start appearing.

NYSUT Member Benefits can help ease the stress of holiday shopping while saving you money on numerous gift ideas. Our flagship discount program MB Discounts & Deals offers NYSUT members exclusive savings from the nation’s largest private discount network at more than 1 million locations.

Whether it’s major retailers such as Banana Republic, Old Navy, JCPenney, Macy’s, or Dick’s Sporting Goods; gift basket, flower or chocolate vendors such as 1800Flowers.com, Harry & David, Cheryl’s, or The Popcorn Factory; movie ticket deals from Regal, Bow Tie Cinemas, Cinemark, or AMC Theatres; Broadway shows, museums, and attractions; or ski resort tickets, holiday concerts, or other special events, you are sure to find some fantastic gift ideas on the MB Discounts & Deals portal.

f you are a full- or part-time, 10-month employee in a non-teaching position, your membership in the New York State and Local Retirement System is optional, meaning you are not automatically enrolled. To join, submit a membership application to your employer, who will then enroll you in the Employees’ Retirement System. It’s important to understand the valuable benefits of an ERS membership and why you should join as soon as possible.

• When you retire, you will receive a monthly pension payment for the rest of your life.^*
• You may be eligible to receive additional service credit if you worked for a public employer before joining ERS or if you served in the U.S. Armed Forces and received an honorable discharge from active military duty.
• You can take a loan against your retirement contributions.^*
• NYSLRS retirement plans provide death and disability retirement benefits.

Welcome! We hear you, and we have actually been where you are. While we can’t tell you how to manage your personal budget, certified financial planners recognize the ages of 20 to 35 as the key years for retirement savings. In the beginning of your career, retirement seems really far away, but starting to save for retirement early gives your money plenty of time to grow.

For more information on the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System, be sure to read the Your First Look at NYSTRS pamphlet, nysut.cc/trsfirstlook.