Dear Paraprofessionals,
Welcome to school year 2008-2009! I hope you enjoyed your summer.
After nearly five months of rallies, school- and community-based actions
by UFT and Keep the Promises Coalition members, we managed last spring
to stave off the budget cuts that had been slated for this school year.
No school faced a loss in funds and some received an increase for this
year.
But the budget battle is far from over. City and state officials predict
the worsening economy will result in less tax revenue in the months ahead.
The mayor has already announced an $185 million cut for the school system
this year, and he’s asking for a 5% cut in next year’s budget.
So brothers and sisters, we are going to have to do double duty in the
weeks and months ahead.
For now, I hope you will join us in the work that is already underway,
as the union uses its voice, feet and power in the campaign to get Sen.
Barack Obama elected to lead our country.
In Solidarity,
Shelvy Young Abrams