We are One: Public employees will display their value

Just the FAX is a newsletter sent to state legislators each Friday from the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. Issues are available online at http://la.aft.org.

This weekend, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers will host its annual Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel Conference. It is the only statewide gathering dedicated to the concerns of school employees other than teachers. We’re meeting with classroom assistants, clerical staff, food service workers, maintenance and custodial employees and transportation workers.

A special guest at the conference will be Leonal Hardman, president of the Louisiana branch of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. He and LFT President Steve Monaghan will jointly announce a new informational campaign to remind our fellow citizens about the necessary work done by public employees, and the important role that public employees play in our communities.

It should not be necessary to say that public servants are vital to our state and our nation, but that is an unfortunate sign of the times. Across the nation, public employees have become scapegoats in the struggle to balance budgets. Instead of blaming poor political choices or Wall Street malfeasance for our economic woes, some point to the salaries and benefits of the people who provide the basic government services we all depend on.

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