Secretary

MICHAEL MENDEL is secretary of the UFT. He is a product of the New York City school system, having attended PS 91 in Brooklyn, JHS 61 in Crown Heights, and Wingate HS. After that he attended Brooklyn College and then earned a master’s degree in Educational Administration from New York University.

Michael returned to his old school, JHS 61, as a teacher. It was here that he developed the two interests that would dominate his life: fair and equitable treatment for all pedagogues and an interest in salary and personnel issues.

At JHS 61 Michael became a delegate to the union’s Delegate Assembly, trained as a “U”-rating and arbitration advocate, served on the School Curriculum Committee, the District 17 Curriculum Committee and the Pupil Personnel Committee.

But Michael was laid off twice during the fiscal crisis years of the 1970s. Originally a social studies teacher, he became re-certified in English and taught both subjects. This experience contributed to his interest in such key personnel issues as licensing and excessing. He also served for four years in the school as a dean, bringing his caring approach and expertise to the problems of the students whom he advised and counseled. He would use the same skills in his later dealings with UFT members who came to him for help with their licensing, salary, excessing and other personnel problems.

In 1987, Michael went to work for the UFT as a PM staffer and then became a special representative for personnel matters. He later became Assistant to the President for Personnel. In July 2003, Michael became the director of staff for the union and was elected secretary in 2004.

In May 2007, Michael was named to a new post, executive assistant to the UFT president. He is the union’s chief negotiator and has oversight responsibilities for personnel and contract compliance.