FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Joining forces, the California Teachers Association and the California Nurses Association today launched a statewide radio ad that exposes the hypocrisy of the governor attacking dedicated classroom educators and nurses as "special interests" as he rakes in millions of dollars in political donations from big businesses.
"I'm a first-grade teacher and my only agenda is fighting to improve the conditions in my classroom so my kids get every opportunity they deserve," a teacher says in the ad.
A nurse adds: "Imagine, our governor called nurses 'special interests' after HE stopped the new nurse's staffing law that would have improved patient care. But Schwarzenegger doesn't say a word about his own donations from the big drug and insurance companies - the real special interests that run Sacramento."
The ad points out to the governor: "Teachers and nurses aren't 'special interests' you need to 'battle,' Governor Schwarzenegger, they're at the heart of our communities - working to improve our health care and strengthen our local schools."
The 60-second spots run for three weeks in English and Spanish on dozens of radio stations in every major California media market. They send a strong message from the 335,000-member CTA and the 60,000-member CNA, the leaders of both unions said today.
"Every day, it seems, the governor insults the outstanding work of our public school teachers and nurses by calling them special interests," CTA President Barbara E. Kerr said. "Educators are outraged. We are proud to stand with nurses in this new radio campaign to say to the governor that our only special interests are the students and patients we dedicate our lives to helping."
"It's shameful of the governor to try to vilify as special interests our nurses, who heal the sick and vulnerable in our society, and our teachers," said CNA President Deborah Burger, RN. "We are proud to be working together with California's teachers to defend our patients, our children, and our communities."
The radio ads can be heard or read on the CTA website and on the CNA website: www.calnurse.org.