Teachers Rally At Annual Union Conference To Battle Mayor's Budget
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Attendees at the teachers union's annual spring conference on Saturday did not take lightly the news that the mayor's latest budget plan still includes a plan for 6,000 fewer public school teachers, including 4,000 layoffs. NY1's Amanda Farinacci filed the following report.Nearly 2,000 teachers, parent advocates and school administrators showed up at the Hilton in Midtown Saturday for the United Federation of Teachers annual spring conference.
UFT President Michael Mulgrew addressed the crowd and told them to stand against education cuts until the final city budget is due at the end of June.
"The next six weeks in this city will be parents, teachers, students, advocates, clergy in the street saying enough is enough and we will not stand by and take this anymore," said Mulgrew.
Mulgrew is unconvinced the city does not have the money to keep the 6,100 teachers Mayor Michael Bloomberg insists must go because of the city's fiscal crisis. Instead, he says the mayor is choosing not to spend what he claims is a $3.2 billion surplus that could easily be used to spare teacher cuts.
"He can stop the layoffs and still have a very large surplus. And let's be clear -- that money belongs to the people of New York City and not to Mayor Bloomberg," said Mulgrew.
Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott did not address the cuts specifically and instead told the crowd the focus needs to stay on the students.
"It's going to be tough. We're going to have agreements and disagreements around a number of issues, but I pledge to michael and I pledge to all of you that I will always accessible to you," said Walcott.
The union is planning several rallies over the next few weeks. It says it will not stop fighting until teacher layoffs are off the table.
"I'll do anything I can to support the system. This system is a great system and we're here because we love the kids," said teacher Mary Anne Spallone.
"I think we need the teachers. I think we need the smallest class sizes," said Mirtha Gil, an assistant principal. "So I think the teachers are hoping that the mayor will reconsider the importance of education and that this is the future, not only of the city, but of the world."
Still, the mayor insists the cuts are necessary because of slashed state and federal funding and will go ahead as planned.