AFSCME, the largest public labor union in the country, is throwing their support behind the “Education Matters” team for the upcoming Jersey City BOE contest.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“We support the Education Matters team. Working with Sudhan Thomas, Board President we were able to negotiate a fair three-year contract for our members including one of the first agreements in the State which extended Chapter 78 relief through the savings created by the Board by moving to a self funded insurance program,” AFSCME New Jersey State Director Steve Tully said in a statement.
“We were also able to work together to prevent layoffs during some of the hardest negotiations through the ongoing discussions with Sudhan Thomas and the Board members who carried the message of ‘Education Matters’ in all of their actions.
The Local 2262 has about a 1,000 part-time and full-time employees working at the JCBOE schools, including custodians, security, food service, bus drivers and building trades comprised of carpenters, plumbers and electricians.
” … The team has a proven track record of communication and collaboration with parents, teachers and the community. In addition they have led with transformative leadership and initiatives in the last 2 years. Our members, their families and the extended AFSCME family in Jersey City stand in solidarity with the Education Matters team who are also backed by the teachers union,” added Local 2262 AFSCME President Frank Zahlten.
“The Education Matters team stands for strong public schools supported by labor. The AFSCME endorsement is another validation and testimony to the broad support our team is drawing from a wide group of constituents,” noted Education Matters campaign manger Mike Greco.
13 candidates are seeking five board seats, the majority of the nine-person governing body, that are up from grabs on November 5th.
