Day: October 26, 2020

Colleagues,

I encourage you to join educators across the nation and sign the Shaker Institute Democracy Declaration that states: “We, the undersigned educators in pre-K-12 schools, colleges and universities, representatives of schools across the United States, endorse democracy as a means of giving voice to each one of us, of expressing the dignity of each individual, of representing the values of our society, and of ensuring the lawful transition of authority. Every freedom depends upon the freedom to vote. Each vote counts; count each vote.”

Our democracy is under attack daily by the current administration. We must continue our fight to elect candidates that will fight to protect democracy for all. Please join us in this fight by signing the declaration here and then sharing it with your colleagues and encouraging them to sign as well.

In solidarity,
Fred

Colleagues,

I’m excited to announce UUP is joining forces with New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) to host a virtual rally to pressure the legislature to return to Albany and reinstate the New York Stock Transfer Tax.

New York’s Stock Transfer Tax had been levied on stock trades since 1905, but since 1981, the tax has been rebated back to Wall Street. If fully collected, the Stock Transfer Tax is estimated to raise between $14-$19 billion annually. NYS Assemblymember Phil Steck and Senator James Sanders have introduced legislation to require the state to keep the proceeds from this tax (see: A.7791-B/S.6203-A). UUP has been advocating for this important piece of legislation, and it’s time to ramp up our efforts.

To do so, UUP and NYSNA will host a virtual rally on Nov. 10 at 12 pm with unions, social justice advocates, good government groups and elected officials to push the state legislature to reconvene and take up revenue raising proposals, primarily the Stock Transfer Tax, to address the economic crisis facing New York. You can register here.

 After you register to join the rally, invite a friend, colleague, or member of the community. You can add a selfie to the Reinstate the NY Stock Transfer Tax campaign webpage and let everyone know why this rally is important to you. Our concerns and demands must be heard. You can add a selfie here.

To learn more about the various revenue raising proposals and the need for public higher education and health care funding, visit the campaign page here: https://uupinfo.org/resources/raisingrevenue/. Revisit this page often, as a social media toolkit and postcard campaign will be coming soon.

Attached is a graphic that can be used to advertise the event to your members and via social media.

Please share this information widely.

In solidarity,
Fred