NYSUT to Charge Members for Meetings, Not Sure How Much Yet

From Beth Dimino, President of the Port Jefferson Station Teachers Association and ST Caucus Chair:

The letter below is the kind of Bullshit that will be NYSUT Leadership's undoing. The Unity Caucus has been having meetings in NYSUT headquarters since the building was constructed and they only thought to develop a policy for meeting spaces after STCaucus requested space for Local Presidents to meet in Utica and after NYSUT BOD meetings!
Bill us Ass Clowns!
We will meet!
We will continue to grow our numbers because the rank and file know we are with the rank and file! 

Dear Ms. Dimino: 

I am writing in response to your inquiry about using space at NYSUT headquarters for meetings of the ST Caucus after NYSUT Board of Directors meetings. 

NYSUT does allow certain external groups to use its headquarters facilities for a fee, subject to the attached guidelines. Consistent with the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA), NYSUT charges a fee for internal political caucuses to use the union’s facilities. The next meeting of the NYSUT Board of Directors, which takes place on November 20, 2015, is scheduled to conclude by 6:30 p.m. on Friday, November 20. Please advise Amie Marois of NYSUT Travel and Conference Services at amarois@nysutmail.org of your group’s needs with regard to meeting at that time, including confirmation that the request is for November 20, 2015 after the Board of Directors meeting, the duration of the meeting, the approximate number of people who will be in attendance, and which room or type of room is requested. The fees listed in the attached guidelines are for a full day usage of NYSUT’s Headquarters facilities; half day usage at half price is also available. 

NYSUT has not previously received a request from an internal political caucus to use its regional office space. NYSUT is in the process of establishing the fair market rate for groups seeking to utilize its regional office facilities. It is anticipated that the fair market rate will be set shortly and, once set, it will be sent to you and the Regional Offices. 

As also noted in the attached guidelines, NYSUT functions have precedence over all meetings of external groups and although there is likely to be no NYSUT function conflicting with your request, NYSUT may pre-empt such groups’ meetings as necessary. NYSUT does not permit internal political caucuses to meet in its facilities during normal office hours of 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. If necessary to cover any expenses incurred, NYSUT reserves the right to charge external groups a fee for staffing the Conference Center for the relevant time period. 

Future requests for meeting space should be sent directly to Amie Marois in NYSUT Travel and Conference Services at amarois@nysutmail.org. 

Please don't hesitate to contact me with any further questions or concerns. 

Sincerely, 

Rob Lamoureux

         Assistant to the President
        New York State United Teachers
        800 Troy-Schenectady Road
        Latham, NY 12110-2455

Faced with an existential case before the Supreme Court which could make dues optional, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) continues to give its members plenty of reasons not to opt in.

On the other hand, renting out its offices to "external groups" might become the norm if and when the Union blows up.