of Teachers chapter leader who joined protesters in New York City. "The issue is money. Our school system, when you take out poverty, is one of the best in the world. The whole system fails because they don't address poverty."

The occupation of Wall Street, which began on Sept. 17 with a small group of protesters, has triggered similar demonstrations in cities across the country with growing support from labor unions.

"If these same folks can be so assertive and demand reform in education," said Scarsdale's Krisanda, pointing to Wall Street, "then we can ask the same of them."

William Tabb — a Professional Staff Congress member who teaches sociology, economics and political science at the CUNY Graduate Center — said a rebirth of strong unions is key to America's economicrecovery and greater social equality.

"We know that bailing out banks, and not people, is morally wrong. Union members must lead the fight to put America on track," he said.

President Obama, in his address to Congress in early September during which he unveiled his American Jobs Act, challenged lawmakers to reform the tax code so "everyone gets a fair shake, and everybody pays their fair share." In doing so, he pointed to billionaire Warren Buffett, who wrote in The New York Times: "My friends and I have been coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress. It's time for our government to get serious about shared sacrifice."

NYSUT, with support from a variety of civic and good government groups across New York state, has consistently called for tax reforms that would