Uniontown-Local 32BJ the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) today celebrated the victory of two endorsed Uniontown Area School Board candidates, Terry Dawson and Don Rugola. 32BJ SEIU, the union representing the Uniontown Area School District’s blue collar workers, endorsed Dawson and Rugola and has done voter outreach on their behalf.
Gabe Morgan, 32BJ SEIU Pennsylvania Director made the following statement:
“32BJ SEIU was proud to support Terry Dawson for School Board. We know that he will work hard so that our education dollars will directly improve student achievement. Terry’s track record of community involvement will help bring more support for Uniontown schools. Terry’s experience with support services will play a key role in ensuring that students have a well-run and healthy educational environment.
“Don Rugola is an excellent addition to the School Board because he knows how important team work and collaboration will be to tackling Uniontown schools’ mounting challenges. Don knows that our schools work best when they’re adequately funded, operated by dedicated professionals and are strongly supported by the community.”
32BJ SEIU has been a staunch critic of Governor Corbett’s drastic public education cuts. This summer, 32BJ SEIU joined local parents, teachers and school employees in Storey Square to rally for public education funding.
Fayette County has seen drastic education cuts as schools are forced to reckon with tighter budgets. Fayette County schools have received $10.5 million less each year from the state than what they received in 2010.
Since Governor Corbett took office, our local schools have had to deal with millions of dollars of cuts:
· Albert Gallatin SD – $2.5 million
· Brownsville SD – $1.4 million
· Laurel Highlands SD – $2.1 million
· Uniontown SD – $1.5 million
This morning, Governor Tom Corbett opened his re-election campaign in Pittsburgh. Public education supporters were on hand to remind voters of how his education policies have devastated Pennsylvania schools.
With 145,000 members in eleven states and Washington, D.C., including 22,000 in Pennsylvania, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country.
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