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Members urged: Join COPE now!
Sep 12, 2008 12:26 PM
Help fund the UFT’s legislative and political agenda
The UFT won a slew of political victories in Albany and City Hall during the last school year, and the union couldn’t have done it without the voluntary financial contributions of members to the union’s ongoing legislative and political work.
The wins — which included getting the state and city to keep their promises on school funding during a downturn in the economy as well as winning a 55/25 early retirement plan for UFT members — wouldn’t have happened without the union’s political action strength.
It was members’ contributions that:
- Supported rallies at City Hall and in Albany;
- Paid for the buses for teachers and parents to attend Lobby Day in Albany;
- Funded television and radio ads in support of public education;
- Made possible union campaign efforts — including phone banking and mailings — to elect public officials who support educators and education.
All these things happened because members gave voluntary contributions to the UFT’s Committee on Political Education (COPE), which exists to influence political decisions and to support strong public funding for public education.
Why COPE? Why voluntary contributions?
While politics is a key arena where unions fight for their members, federal law prohibits unions from using members’ dues for any political or legislative activities not related to servicing members or collective bargaining. That means the cost of doing one vital type of union work has to be borne by voluntary donations, and from members only.
That’s why you need UFT COPE.
That’s why UFT COPE needs you, now.
Your UFT chapter leader will be distributing COPE materials soon. We urge you to join COPE and pledge the suggested contribution of $5 per paycheck, which will come out of payroll deduction. And if you’re already contributing to COPE, make sure you’re meeting the suggested contribution level.
A contribution to COPE from you pays for itself. Help secure the UFT’s legislative and political agenda. Join COPE Now!
