Please take a moment to read the following memo and attachments that were shared by NYSUT. BMUST has contributed $500 from VOTE COPE to the Los Angeles Teachers Strike Fund.

By now I'm sure you have heard that the 31,000 members of the United
Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) went on strike Monday against the Los
Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).

The outcome of this strike will have profound implications for the
future of public education, much as the successful Chicago Teachers'
Union strike did in 2012 and the statewide strikes in West Virginia,
Oklahoma and Arizona did last year.

It is critically important that all educators understand the issues
that brought L.A. teachers to this juncture and what's really at stake
-- for all of us --  in this epic battle. While poor wages and working
conditions are certainly part of the story, the greater issue is the
LAUSD's refusal to use available funds to improve desperately inadequate
learning conditions and its apparent determination to dismantle itself
in order to turn over the education of L.A.'s more than 500,000 students
currently not in charter schools to for-profit corporate charter
operators.

Please take a few moments to read the two attached articles to get the
full picture.

After reading the articles, I encourage you and your members to
consider sending a donation to the UTLA strike fund as I have just done.
Your local can make a donation. Remember, the fight UTLA is waging is
for all of us -- professional educators, students, parents and public
education itself.

The Los Angeles Teacher/Parent Strike Solidarity Fund was set up by
Reclaim Our Schools Los Angeles to engage parents and community members
in support of the strike. The web site link to make donations is:

https://www.aros-wearela.com/

Let's support our UTLA sisters and brothers in this fight!

Matt Jacobs
Regional Staff Director, Nassau
Office Tel: (516) 496-2035
Mobile: (516) 319-7065
Fax: (516) 921-2964
mjacobs@nysutmail.org

BE the union! www.nysut.org/unionvalue

As a result of the legislation passed and signed into law in April 2017, union members in the state of New York will have the opportunity to deduct their union dues from their state income taxes.
Two years ago, the New York State AFL-CIO, with support from unions across the state, led the charge for this legislation. And, we were successful.
Beginning this year, union members will be able to deduct their union dues from their state taxes if they itemize deductions on their state taxes. It is important to point out that tax payers can now itemize deductions on their state taxes even if they don’t itemize on their federal taxes.
These deductions will put an estimated $35 million back into the pockets of union members like you throughout our state.
By working together we can accomplish great things. Stay tuned to the New York State AFL-CIO for more opportunities to support legislative issues that will benefit working men and women in New York.
In Unity,
Mario Cilento
President New York State AFL-CIO

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Help us spread the word by sharing this video.

It is with great sadness that we inform everyone of the passing of LorriLee Geraci, Mepham science teacher, who taught in the district from 1993-2017.

Please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.


Funeral and visitation arrangements can be found below.

https://hungerfordandclark.com/tribute/details/885/LorriLee-Geraci/obituary.html#tribute-start