March 26, 2018 - Bow, NH

The dust is now settling from the mayhem that is “crossover” in the NH Legislature, the date (March 22) by which bills from either the Senate or the House must be acted upon and if passed, sent on to the other chamber.  Both the House and Senate were in long sessions on both Wednesday and Thursday last week, but with the rush of business concluded, take a breather this week.  Instead, the focus is on upon committee hearings and then the slow grind towards May 3, the date by which each chamber must act on bills having originated on “the other side of the wall.” 

Launched after Hurricane Maria made landfall six months ago, Operation Agua continues to serve as a lifeline for communities still without access to safe drinking water, and it is now more than 75 percent to its goal of bringing 100,000 water filters to Puerto Rico. Operation Agua has raised $1.75 million through crowdfunded donations and has delivered 54,000 Kohler Clarity water filters across the island, including to more than 1,100 public schools and tens of thousands of homes, churches and community centers. Based on funds on hand, 23,040 more filters will be heading to the island shortly.

On Saturday, March 24, 2018 a handful of MEA members joined tens of thousands of activists throughout our country and the world by attending local March For Our Lives events.  Thank you to Melinda Smith, Patrick Dillon, Kathy Olwy and retiree Nancy Reisman who attended the Great Neck event.  Thank you to Karen Murphy and Hae Jung Yang who attended the New York City event.  Thank you to Julie Colbert and Anne Soldano who attended the Glen Cove event. Also, thank you to Steve Gilroy, Tony Blyskal, Holly Weinstein, Ed Vasta and retiree Carol Donhue who attended the Huntington event. Thank you to Anne Albano for attending the SUNY Old Westbury event.  Thank you to Donna Stoerger and Elizabeth Theo-Moloney for attending the SUNY Farmingdale event. And thank you to Pat HIggins and Nancey Weiss for attending the Port Washington event.  Pictures from this inspiring day can be found by selecting "News" / "Photos" from the menu above.

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We hope you have a healthy and restful Spring Break!

Colleagues,

Your Union in Action: what was going on at NTU this week?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT: Adam Marcoux, President, Office: 603-888-7544 

NTU OPPOSES ARMING TEACHERS AND STAFF 

NASHUA, NH March 21, 2018 – A little more than a month since the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman High School, and most recently, the shooting at Great Mills High School in Maryland, the topics of gun control, school safety, and arming teachers and school staff is still an active conversation. Even with the outpouring of opposition from teachers, staff, students, parents, and Union leadership across the country, the push continues. 

“The Nashua Teachers’ Union Board of Directors is completely opposed to arming any of our teachers or staff in Nashua,” said Adam Marcoux, President of the Nashua Teachers’ Union. The vote to oppose arming teachers and staff, which was unanimous, was taken at the NTU’s monthly meeting earlier this week. “Can you imagine sitting at calendar time or doing a read aloud, sitting next to students, with a loaded gun? We came into education to teach and help students, not be armed guards. I can’t think of a single person in the Nashua School District who wouldn’t think twice about helping and protecting students, but asking them to carry a loaded gun is asking too much.” 

Marcoux went on to say, “we as educators need to be armed with books, school supplies, reasonable class sizes, more guidance counselors and school psychologists, current materials and text books, and more support, not side arms. We don’t have the funds for more teachers, para-educators, guidance counselors, and school psychologists, but we can train and arm school staff? That doesn’t make any sense.” 

“We stand in solidarity with our colleagues from AFT and NEA across the country, opposed to arming teachers and staff. Arm us with pencils, not pistols.”

We would like to take a moment to thank each member for their recent recommitment to our union. By signing the cards we gave, you helped to show just how strong our union is! We appreciate your commitment!

Madison, WI – The AFT-Wisconsin Committee on Political Education has endorsed Rebecca Dallet for Wisconsin Supreme Court. 

“Judge Dallet has spent decades fighting for our rights in Wisconsin,” said AFT-Wisconsin President Kim Kohlhaas.  “She has demonstrated that she is above special interests, and will fight to ensure that our rights and values come before the lobbying power of the one percent.  She’ll be a real champion for the people of Wisconsin.” 

On Saturday, March 24, at Military Park at 10 am, the City of Newark will be holding a March for Our Lives Rally. This is in conjunction with the national March for Our Lives event in Washington D.C. and with sister events across the state and country.