Community: Food Pantry Opens In East Rockaway Elementary/Middle School PAGE 4 Nov 2019 Volume 53, Number 3 American Federation NEWS of School Administrators, COUNCIL OF SCHOOL SUPERVISORS AND ADMINISTRATORS AFL-CIO Local 1 Rally! Thousands Turn Out, Demand Fair Contract For NYC School Leaders BY CHUCK WILBANKS Thousands of CSA members rallied near City Hall on Oct. 30. It was a huge turnout and an overwhelming show of support by members for their union as President Mark Cannizzaro and his team continue their efforts to hash out a con- tract with a recalcitrant city government. Mr. Cannizzaro gave a thunderous speech in which he took the city to task for offering many platitudes about the great job that school leaders do, all the while holding up a family leave policy that would benefit some of CSA’s most vulnerable members. “Platitudes are nice, but it’s your support here today that fuels us,” he told the crowd. He hammered home the fact that the CHUCK WILBANKS constant micromanaging of principals, n Public officials and CSA members and supporters turned out in force to send a clear message to New York City’s mayor and chancellor. combined with chronic underfunding of schools, ultimately leaves students commissioned. “Seventy percent of you said. “Twenty eight percent of those sur- More than a dozen elected officials unsafe. He cited some statistics from a believe you are not given the resources veyed are satisfied with the direction the also spoke at the event, including City recent survey of our members that CSA you need to keep your students safe,” he DOE is taking.” Continued on Page 6 President’s American Federation of School Administrators Viewpoint In Nation’s Capitol, CSA Joins Mark Cannizzaro AFSA To Lobby For Educators BY GABE GALLUCCI including Title II – Part A funding, Title IV – ‘Your Support Part A funding, school safety, mental health, Oct. 17 marked CSA’s first ever joint school climate, and funding. Members con- Today Fuels Us’ lobby day with AFSA in Washington, DC. veyed real experiences in our schools and We joined our brothers and sisters from expressed how the government has been Why doesn’t CSA yet have a contract? Why must the around the country to have important con- falling short when it comes to the nation’s city put up roadblocks to a parental leave policy that Mayor versations with elected officials at the high- investment in our students, schools and DeBlasio has touted around the country? How is it that fund- est levels of government. Active CSA mem- school leaders. ing problems and micromanagement are festering to the point bers lobbied alongside retired members, an Throughout our lobby visits, we urged that our members are concerned about the safety of their experience that all said was important and Congress to fund Title II – Part A funding at schools? CSA President Mark Cannizzaro addressed the mem- useful for our cause. no less than the House-passed level of $2.5 bers of our union at our rally on Oct. 30 outside New York City “The opportunity to convey our experi- billion, an increase of $500 million from Hall. Here are some of his remarks. ence from the ground was well received and last year’s fiscal year budget. Title II – Part we were able to educate those who influence A funding alone could be directly allocated ook at this crowd! Welcome Brothers and policy,” said Wladimir Lewis-Thomas. “We toward establishing a principal pipeline and Sisters! need to be at the table to influence those creating leadership development programs. Before I begin, let’s hear it for our NYPD who impact policies that affect what we do.” Additional funding could be used to prepare brothers and sisters who are out here keeping Our lobbyists tackled several issues, Continued on Page 3 us safe today and every day. Remember, the L Continued on Page 2 Expanding CITE: Are There She’s A Fighter Window To Support For Any Doctorates And CSA Has Switch Dental NYC Youth In The House? Her Back Benefits Open 2 4 5 9 367254_Nov 2019 CSA News.indd 1 11/8/19 6:22 PM 2 CSA NEWS Nov. 2019 Nov. 2019 CSA NEWS PRESIDENT’S PAGE New Anti-Union Battleground ‘Your Commitment Is Not Opens Up In NY State Courts Council of School Being Honored By This City’ Supervisors & Administrators American Federation of School Administrators, AFL-CIO, Local 1 Strong And Unified At The Bargaining Table, As In 2014 By Mark Cannizzaro 40 Rector St., NY, NY 10006 Phone: (212) 823-2020 Continued from Page 1 respect for the heroic work you all do. Fax: (212) 962-6130 men and women in blue are union too! And I’m growing tired of hearing our mem- www.csa-nyc.org let’s hear it for our other union brothers bers tell us that changes to our discipline and sisters from many unions here support- code and a lack of resources have made President ing us, just as we support them. Let’s give their schools unsafe. Our survey showed us Mark Cannizzaro a huge shoutout to our brothers and sisters that 70 percent of you believe that you’re Executive Vice President from TWU who are rallying down the street not given the sufficient resources to provide Henry Rubio for a fair contract. We all wish President a safe and effective learning environment First Vice President for the children. And overall, only 28 per- Rosemarie Sinclair Tony Utano and his members success at the cent of members are satisfied with the over- Treasurer bargaining table. Finally, we want to thank Christopher Ogno all the elected officials here today and those all direction of the DOE. I don’t know whether to be angry or Secretary who couldn’t make it, who support us every Steffani Fanizzi day for the benefit of our students. laugh when the response to our raising of Vice Presidents And to all of you in the crowd, thank legitimate concerns to hastily constructed Sam Akel you all for coming out! I know first-hand protocols is the suggestion that perhaps Jose Garcia the job you do and how hard you work our agenda is something different than a n In June, 2018, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, second from left, signed an executive order Ramon Gonzalez prohibiting state entities from disclosing state employee personal information. Lois Lee every day. I know it took tremendous effort children’s agenda. CSA members don’t need Katiana Louissaint for you to make time to be here today. You to defend themselves or their agenda. Their Nancy Russo, Retiree Chapter are here because you know how important students and the parents they serve know BY CHUCK WILBANKS Executive Director Operations it is. exactly where our priorities lie. Erminia Claudio Since negotiating our 2014 contract, I have seen the ben- I’m tired of hearing that principals cannot hire an assistant From the people who General Counsel efit of a united front and a united union. In 2014, we stuck principal due to micromanagement from above. I lose sleep brought us Janus v. AFSCME David Grandwetter together in unity, and we prevailed. As I look out right now, when I hear stories like Serena Forzaglia’s, who is here with comes a new lawsuit to force many of you benefitted from the solidarity of your union us today. While she does her best to take care of all students, New York to turn over govern- Executive Director Field Services brothers and sisters. I told you then, as you were in jeopardy she is struggling with the cost and missed work days due to ment employee contact data to Sana Q. Nasser of forfeiting your retroactive pay, that I would be calling on undergoing fertility treatments. Now, with few CAR days for foes of unions. Field Directors you soon to stand strong for others. That’s what a union maternity leave, she too often has to go to work sick. And, Juanita Bass, James Harrigan, does! We look out for each other, especially when someone is while she has received support from our Welfare Fund and her Christine Martin, Frank Patterson, SOLIDARITY Mercedes Qualls trying to take advantage of our brothers and sisters. outstanding principal, Robert Marino, our city has turned its back on her. Assistant Field Directors • • • The city is trying to overcharge us for paid parental leave. Beshir Abdellatif, Eleanor Andrew, Mildred Boyce, Laverne Burrowes, ere’s another example: Last year, this city was telling They say ‘productivity’ is lost when our members go on leave, Dominic Cipollone, Peter Devlin, Kenneth families of our members who died while in active service and therefore we should pay significantly more for this ben- Unionists Lobby Congress in DC Llinas, Nancy Esposito, Roberto Flores, that since their loved ones had “left” the system before efit than our brothers and sisters in other unions. Can some- Ellie Greenberg, Ray Gregory, H retirement, that they were not entitled to the retroactive one tell me what we are excused from getting done when Continued from Page 1 Joseph LaCascia, Monica McDonald, money that was rightfully earned. Our legal team went to a member is out on leave? Productivity is not lost: When aspiring school leaders, help current prin- Dorothy Morris, Beverly Pascal-Miller, you are short staffed, you work beyond what are already cipals, and invest in mentors and coaches Wanda Soto, Yvonne Williams work and secured justice for these families. We stood together to defeat the proposed New York state unhealthy hours, you endure unhealthy amounts of stress, who directly support principal learning.