Janet Myruski
DON’T BE A WEAK LINK … SUPPORT YOUR POLITICAL ACTION FUND
GIVE TO VOTE-COPE
VOTE-COPE is the Committee on Political Education, the non-partisan political action arm of New York State United Teachers. VOTE-COPE is used to support those candidates and campaigns that support education and labor.

WHY SHOULD YOU CONTRIBUTE TO VOTE-COPE?

1. Your pension, your pension, your pension - Every time you read the newspaper more and more corporate pensions are dwindling or are being eliminated altogether. By increasing our contributions to VOTE-COPE, NYSUT will be able to lobby against any pension reform task force which would look to change our pension plan from defined-benefit to defined-contribution such as the Bush administration is trying to do with Social Security. VOTE-COPE funds were also used to successfully lobby for a permanent cost-of-living-adjustment for retiree pensions.
2. Local Issues - Many of the funds contributed to VOTE-COPE by our members are actually returned to the MTA. These funds are used for political action initiatives which are important to the local. Every year, funds from VOTE-COPE are used by the MTA for political action. A recent example of this was the “postcard blitz,” sponsored by the MTA, which ultimately resulted in the restoration of funds to education in the state’s budget. The school budget vote and Board of Education elections are coming in May. You can trust that the MTA has been carefully monitoring the situation and will be involved in the process.
3. Greater Tier Equity-Thanks to the actions of VOTE-COPE, members in Tier 3 and Tier 4 are now only required to contribute towards their retirement for 10 years. For those who contributed for more than 10 years, VOTE-COPE is working to gain service credits for those contributions.
4. Fiscal Equity-NYSUT is striving for statewide fiscal equity for needy schools similar to the victory that was won for NYC schools in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity court cases.

This year’s campaign will run from May 15- May 31. More information will be coming to you at that time. If you don’t already do so, PLEASE consider contributing to VOTE-COPE in May. If you already contribute, please consider increasing your contribution.