On November 7th, 2017 voters in New York State will have an opportunity to change New York State’s constitution. Every twenty years this option is placed on the voter’s ballot giving New Yorkers the chance to afford law makers an opportunity hold a convention to rewrite the state constitution.
Changes to the state constitution can greatly impact public and private education, union agreements and pensions. These constitutionally protected rights would inevitably be challenged:
- The right to a free public education (Article 11, §1)
- The prohibition of reductions in public pension benefits (Article 5, §7);
- The right to workers’ compensation (Article 1, §18)
- The right to be a member of a union and bargain collectively (Article 1, §17).
- A convention would reopen the question of repealing the Blaine Amendment, which bans state aid to religious schools.
NYS educators are encouraged to vote “No” to these changes. To learn more visit educational union websites and the NYS Board of Elections website.