We are a group of Mary Cariola Support Staff
We are Teaching Assistants, Classroom Aides, and Crisis Intervention Specialists. We believe that a union is the best way to ensure that we have a voice in our workplace to address the issues that affect us and our students.. 853 schools all over the state have union contracts, and more are in the process. Recently, the teachers and therapists at Mary Cariola won their union election and they are currently bargaining their first contract. Support staff deserve the same voice at work, and forming a union is the only way to accomplish this. Right now, management is under no obligation to include us in the decision making process. With a union, our employer must negotiate with us over wages, hours, and other terms of conditions and employment.
What's Next?
If our union wins, Mary Cariola support staff will become one of NYSUT's 1,200+ local unions. NYSUT's local bargaining units are autonomous, which means each local bargains their own contract based on the issues that matter most to the members, write their own constitution & bylaws, and elect their own officers. NYSUT provides resources and support in the form of legal support, representation, and member benefits.
A contract would also ensure we have...
- Living wages and raises
- Transparency regarding the budget
- Just cause termination and a transparent disciplinary process; we would no longer be at-will employees
- Clear protocols to ensure workplace safety
- A say in workplace policies and procedures
- Reliable and accessible recourse for unjust treatment