Steel+Valley+Staff+Attends+CLEAR+Coalition+Rally

= Clear Coalition Rally = = Attended by Bethany Fenyus, Betty Lyons, Tracy McGrew, Katie Pisula, Christy Pisula =



= We are one! = = by BethanyFenyus =

= = = On May 3rd, we left rainy and cloudy Munhall behind us and were greeted by the sun and a lot of hope at the Clear Coalition Rally in Harrisburg. The Coalition for Labor Engagement and Accountable Revenues provided the opportunity for over 10 major labor unions to loudly and effectively voice their concerns regarding the Governor’s cuts. Although PSEA and AFT PA were loud and proud, we also combined forces with representatives from unions supporting ironworkers, transportation providers, and letter carriers. The message on Tuesday was clear and was the same one shared by Gabe Morgan, President of the Pennsylvania State Council of SEIU and State Director of 32BJ. He states, “Governor Corbett’s proposed slashes to services will mean more overcrowding in classrooms, more cuts to health care for seniors, and less support for the hard working men and women in our neighborhoods who need it the most. It’s disappointing that the governor is attempting to balance the budget on the backs of the middle class—and not by closing corporate tax loopholes or holding Marcellus Shale gas drillers accountable.” Furthermore speakers expressed that reckless budget cuts, such as gutting basic education, higher education, and healthcare for our elderly and most needy, is unconscionable, especially when there are sensible places to reduce government expenditures and reasonably increase state revenues by closing corporate tax loopholes, passing a drilling tax on the Marcellus Shale, and enacting smart cost savings and efficiencies. From the moment we arrived, we felt included in a community of thousands who are not giving up the fight for our students and working families. Everyone on the steps of the capitol truly felt that “we were one” and that together we could prevail! As the chants began (Hey Hey, Ho Ho Corbett’s Budget Has Got To Go), a parent standing next to me informed me that she heard about our district’s prospective cuts and she stressed that our schools specifically will not function without the paraprofessionals and teachers who support her children who have multiple physical and mental disabilities. We were honored to represent Steel Valley, but were also privileged to represent T.E.A.C.H. We were overjoyed to see that our sign designs were represented by various schools across the state and a variety of people gave me their contact information in order to purchase T.E.A.C.H signs and t-shirts. We were most impressed with two students from a public school in the eastern part of the state who spent the afternoon shaking the hands of teachers and thanking them for the service in our public schools. The speakers energized the crowd so that all of our state’s representatives and even the Governor himself heard our chants loud and clear: Pennsylvania teachers we are proud, stand together shout out loud! = = = = For more information, access www.clearforpa.org = = =







= Find photos and media coverage from the rally at www.psea.org/May3. =

= = = = =News= =home=