2 Neshaminy Rallies To Take Place Monday: Parents & School Board Vs. NFT
Two separate rallies will take place Monday morning -- the NFT will hold its rally in Core Creek Park in Langhorne, while parents and school board officials will gather at Lower Southampton Elementary School on Bridgetown Pike.
One week after teachers went on strike, two separate rallies are to take place Monday; one with the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers and another with proponents of the Neshaminy school board -- parents and school officials.
PHOTOS: Neshaminy Teachers Go On Strike
The Neshaminy Federation of Teachers said it will host a member/guest-only labor rally at Core Creek Park in Langhorne on Monday morning.
Although the park is open to the public, park rangers will direct non-rally visitors to other areas of the public park during the rally, according to organizers.
The rally will focus on labor’s role in America and include speeches concerning the ongoing contract dispute between the NFT and the Neshaminy School District. It will include music and a live singing performance in support of NFT’s striking teachers.
Coinciding with Martin Luther King Day, organizers say the rally will also focus on non-violent protest. Teachers will also conduct a food drive to benefit those in need who live in the Neshaminy community in honor of the special day.
A variety of scheduled speakers will also be at the event. They include Ted Kirsch, President, AFT Pennsylvania; Arlene Kempin, PFT General VP; John Meyerson, UFCW Local 1776; Charlie White, Teamsters Local 830; Kathy Black, Coalition of Labor Union Women; Cathy Scott, AFSCME; Liz McElroy, PA Council AFL-CIO; Alan Malachowski, President, North Penn Education Association and more.
Protestors will begin a picket march at Maple Point Middle School at 9:30 a.m. to the Woodbourne Road entrance at Core Creek Park where a 10 a.m. rally is scheduled to take place.
Meanwhile, a separate rally will be held to support Neshaminy's children and the school board, according to a news release.
A local group of parents scheduled a rally "to keep our support for the school board growing by putting the facts out in the public eye in-regards to the NFT strike," according to a news release.
READ MORE: Neshaminy Parent: 'You Don’t Mess With My Kid'
Local representatives and school board members are expected to appear at the event.
It will take place on the School Lane side at Lower Southampton Elementary School on Bridgetown Pike from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Monday.
Linda Sheridan
7:50 am on Monday, January 16, 2012
The NFT needs to "allow" the teachers to go back to their classrooms.
Unions need good, fair leaders, not greedy leaders who change their minds and their
words constantly.
No wonder the school board has not been able to negotiate.
Maureen Berry-Grbas
9:55 am on Monday, January 16, 2012
well i hope the teachers and their union,listen to parents,who are THEIR BOSS,WE PAY TAXES,THATS WHERE YOU GET YOUR PAY CHECK,HAVENT THEY HEARD THE OLD PHRASE "DONT BITE THE HAND THAT FEED'S YOU". We will pay their benefits,when they pay for ours,BENSALEM TEACHERS PAY INTO THEIR'S WHAT MAKES OUR TEACHERS BETTER THEN US AND BENSALEM TEACHERS,get it threw YOUR THICK SKULLS"YOUR FREE RIDE IS OVER"
Linda Sheridan
10:24 am on Monday, January 16, 2012
Again, there are excellent hard-working Neshaminy teachers who want to accept the
board's offer NOW and gladly pay their health benefits but fear union retaliating AND are not allowed a voice. The NFT is a dictatorship.
The union's power has to go, THIS union leader and her small band of rah rah greedy
followers have to go. This school board is setting a tone and being fiscally responsible. Pennsbury's school board members are following Neshaminy's lead.
The students know the teachers who are pro NFT- they need to go!!! The economy dictates that we cannot continue to pay these benefits AND continue
to fund the guaranteed pensions of teachers and all workers who are paid by tax dollars. Hopefully our STATE and FEDERAL senators and congressmen will stifle their greed, too and not be beholden to big union campaign contributors. Where is Tommy Tomlinson standing up for the people who elected him!!?? The union owns
Harrisburg!!! It all needs to stop now or we will all be like Chester-Upland School District and face bankruptcy.