Around the UFT

Retired Teachers Chapter political action volunteers honored

‘Powerful’ team

published February 2, 2012

Cara Metz The camera captures some of the honorees posing with Murphy and Mulgrew (back row).

Cara Metz Retiree activist Mildred Speiser shows off her plaque and speaks of her days in Cleveland as “grassroots action, talking one to one with people in homes being foreclosed and in mansions,” as Teresa Alejandro (seated, left) and Betty Gottfried listen.

“You don’t know how important you are.” That’s how UFT President Michael Mulgrew greeted Retired Teacher Chapter members at a reception at union headquarters in their honor on Jan. 18 for their work against anti-union forces in Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida last year. Thanking them for never saying “no” when asked for their help, he said, “You are not just active, but powerful.” The union leader applauded the retirees for “protecting everyone,” adding that, “knowing this chapter is here allows me to sleep at night.” RTC Chapter Leader Tom Murphy described the retirees as those who “can do, should do and are happy to do.” George Caulfield coordinated the volunteers and praised them for being “flexible and hitting the ground running.” Replicas of the Marsh/Raimo Award plaque given on Teacher Union Day were presented to all the volunteers for their “grassroots, front-line union activism.”