CAT Tracks for May 20, 2002 BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL!

CATs IN DA HOUSE!

Just in case nobody else says it...WELCOME BACK to your "day job". I'm sure that your principal is relieved and happy to have you back...I'm sure he/she has had to work much harder since you've been gone!

You can now direct your formidable energy and creativeness to the vocation that you chose and for which you trained...not striking and picketing. HOWEVER, I must say...you were grrrrrreat at the striking/picketing thing. Of course, practice makes perfect!

Contrary to what some people say about you...you DO CARE about your students. THAT is why you put up with "stuff" during the course of a "normal" year, and especially during times like this past month. It's not about money...although you should never be ashamed of asking for a fair, living wage comensurate with your taining and responsibility.

What about the people who were responsible for distributing your salaries and benefits to the public, using information that they told the CAT bargaining team was "confidential" to turn the public against you? They make more than you do...multiples of what you do! Did they apologize for their salaries? No...they refused to reveal their salaries! Did they propose a salary cut for themselves...like they did to us? Of course not! Don't get me started...I'm trying to be positive here. But, as the saying goes..."the truth will out!"

Anyway...You now have an opportunity to again work with your students. They will now have the attention that they so constantly crave and that you so gladly give. You can now provide them with a "normal" closure to the year...instead of the abrupt end that would have been. I know you will give your usual 100%.

THANKS...ONCE AGAIN!

I've told you this many times during the "noon" meeting...because it is, oh, so true! You are the strongest group of CATs that I have ever had the pleasure to work with...and I needed it. For the first time, I could feel that age was starting to catch up with me. BUT... you "had my back". You didn't even wait for me to ask you to do things...I never have been very good at that anyway. You saw something that needed to be done...and you did it. You thought of things that I would have never (even years ago) thought of...and did them. On a personal level, I appreciate it - more than words can express. As President of the CAT, I AM PROUD OF YOU.

The strength and courage "under fire" that you repeatedly demonstrated is why we WILL SUCCEED in our struggle for a fair contract settlement. Contrary to the lie that the District tries so hard to "sell"...the CAT is NOT about me, nor the bargaining team. It is ALL ABOUT YOU! The more they try to divide us, the stronger we become. UNITED WE STAND!

THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES...

REMEMBER: The only difference between last Friday and today is that we are back in school. Our efforts to gain a fair contract settlement continue. Next focal point: There is a special meeting of the Cairo Board of Education this coming Thursday night, May 23, 2002, at 5 p.m. It would be a good time to let the Board of Education know that their ploy to get people to leave the building last week will NOT be forgotten...and will NOT keep people from coming back!