Our UUUtica Mission asks us to “advocate for social justice”. New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) believes that a social justice agenda is more than token charity; instead, it is a strategy that transforms individuals and communities. On this “Labor Sunday” we will hear about the roles of Unions in the work of social justice from local NYSUT members Leslie Rose and Sandie Carner-Shafran who continue this work of equity, solidarity, and dignity for all.

This service will be on Zoom.

Sandie Carner-Shafran is a recently retired teaching assistant in the Special Education Programs for WSWHE BOCES for over 38 years. She is currently an At Large Director serving on the Executive BOD of NYSUT, serves on the Executive BOD as “Labor Ambassador” for the Saratoga Adirondack Boces Employees Association Local 10-190, 2nd Vice President of NYSUT Retiree Council -10, President of the Saratoga Central Labor Council and Policy Board Member of the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center. She helps develop and conduct workshops as a SRP Professional Development Program Trainer through NYSUT’s Education and Learning Trust and serves as a Coordinator for SRP Programs for NYSUT’s ELT Program. Sandie also is a long time Steering Committee member of NYSUT’s Women’s Committee, Civil Human Rights Committee and the LGBTQ Committee.

Leslie Rose is an elementary teacher in the Hewlett-Woodmere School District. Leslie’s path to activism began as a voice of the opt-out movement in her home district, fighting the over-testing of children in all communities. In her local, the Hewlett-Woodmere Faculty Association (HWFA), Leslie serves as an Executive Board member, the Political Action Chair, a co-chair of the Solidarity Committee, a delegate to the NYSUT Representative Assembly, and as HWFA’s unofficial Social Media Coordinator. Leslie is also a delegate to the Long Island Federation of Labor. As a member of the NYSUT Women’s Committee, Leslie co-founded the local NYSUT Women’s Chapter, NYSUT Women of Long Island.

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