Good Afternoon Sisters and Brothers of the Plainedge Federation of Teachers,
I hope everyone had a very happy and safe Halloween filled with lots of delicious candy and memories for years to come!
As much as the changing leaves symbolize the autumn season, it also means Election Day will soon be upon us. Although your PFT leadership has spent many union meetings, e-mails, newsletters, and one-on-one conversations informing you about the importance of voting NO on the Constitutional Convention, I am sending out one final plea for your NO vote on November 7th, 2017.
According to the New York State Constitution (Article 19, §2), every 20 years the people of the Empire State are asked a seemingly simple ballot question: "Shall there be a convention to revise the constitution and amend same?" These twelve simple words that will appear on the ballot on November 7, 2017, will have a huge impact on not just union members, but every citizen of this great State. From teachers and school staff to the children who will be entering pre-K the very next year, all of us will have a stake in the outcome of this important vote. With this in mind, I present to you the top ten reason why you should vote NO this November 7th.
10. A convention could take away protections to our wild forest lands.
9. A convention threatens our prevailing wage laws.
8. A convention threatens worker's compensation laws.
7. A convention threatens absentee voter's rights.
6. A convention threatens our safety in the workplace.
5. A convention would be a total waste of legislative time.
4. A convention would look to reduce or tax our pensions.
3. A convention threatens collective bargaining and tenure rights.
2. A convention puts our children's right to a free and appropriate public education at risk.
And the number 1 reason for not having a convention...
It is an absolute and total waste of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars!!!
On November 7th, FLIP YOUR BALLOT OVER and VOTE NO on the Constitutional Convention (Prop1).
In solidarity.