The Newtown BOE Paraeducators, Behavior Interventionists, and Job Coaches voted through a Connecticut State Board of Labor Relations secret ballot election to leave IFPTE and join UPSEU.

The bargaining unit, comprised of 147 employees, voted nearly unanimously to rid themselves of IFPTE and to join UPSEU.

For years, unit leaders were left to manage day-to-day union responsibilities on their own, despite paying dues to IFPTE. The absence of guidance or support left many mem- bers feeling discouraged and neglected, fueling their desire to join a powerhouse labor organization like UPSEU. Newtown BOE unit officers pictured left to right: Secretary Nicole Lourenco, Vice President Susan Burbank, Treasurer Nichole Marrazzo, President Marlene Bucci and school stewards Lauren Samson and Darcy Cook.