Last month the NYSUT Board of Directors voted to postpone the NYSUT Representative Assembly previously scheduled for May 1-2. Since then, we have seen some of our members thrust onto the front lines of this pandemic as they fight the spread of the virus in our hospitals and healthcare facilities. Others have worked diligently to care for New York's students and families in every corner of our state.
Center for Disease Control social distancing recommendations have prompted the cancellation or postponement of mass gatherings scheduled throughout June, July and August including the Tokyo Olympics, the NEA Representative Assembly, the Democratic National Convention, and the NYS AFL-CIO Convention. The possibility of large-scale events will continue to be limited and we do not believe it will even be possible for NYSUT to convene an in-person, mass gathering with the full scope of the RA before the end of 2020.
Therefore, the NYSUT Board of Directors voted this week to convene a special, virtual meeting of the NYSUT Representative Assembly to be held on May 14, 2020, followed by a special, one-time and non-precedent setting mail-ballot election to be conducted in late May and June. The special RA, and the subsequent elections, will be open to all delegates who were previously reported to NYSUT by the March 11, 2020 Election Certification Report deadline. Delegates and Alternates are receiving the notice of elections and campaign and election procedures via US mail and email. This information will also be printed in the May/June issue of the NYSUT United for all members and is available online at nysut.org/ra.
Delegates and Alternates will receive instructions for joining the virtual meeting via email prior to May 14. This information will also be posted online (login required) at nysut.org/ra. The RA agenda will be limited to just three items. 1. A report of the Credentials Committee. 2. A President's report outlining our path forward and presenting the election procedures for the mail-ballot elections, and 3. A candidate forum to allow those candidates who have previously requested such participation, in accordance with our 2020 Election Procedures, to speak to the delegates. All other matters before the RA, including Resolutions, Legislative Program, and Endorsement of Candidate for Retirement Board Seat will be referred to the Board for consideration at future meetings.
DELEGATES ONLY WILL RECEIVE A MAIL BALLOT AND BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE MAIL-BALLOT ELECTIONS PER THE ADOPTED ELECTION PROCEDURES. Ballots will be mailed to delegates only on May 26, 2020.
Thank you for your understanding as we press forward and plan for the coming months. The spread of the virus continues to be a real concern and we must consider the health and welfare of our members first and foremost. Together, we will forge a new future for our union and we will honor the courage and compassion of the members of our NYSUT family who are on the front lines of this devastating pandemic.
