Social and Economic Justice Committee

One of 3 committees established by former UFT president Randi Weingartenas partnerships between the Unity and New Action caucuses, the Social and Economic Justice Committee helps establish union policy on a wide range of non-contractual social and economic issues. We do this by writing resolutions and submitting them to the union’s Advisory Committee, Executive Board, and Delegate Assembly for adoption.

Although the committee’s roots are in the Unity and New Action caucuses, today we include members from three different caucuses as well as independents. Our members are brought together by a vision of a more just society and by our belief that our union has a role to play in bringing that society into being. Membership in the committee is open to all UFT members and our decisions are taken by consensus.

We have worked to establish progressive union policy on a wide range of issues including fair trade, Wal-Mart’s incursion into New York City, the ongoing wars in Iraqand Afghanistan, the long and difficult strike at Stella D’oro, the assassination of trade unionists in Colombia, the environmentally disastrous use of plastic water bottles, and many others. In many of these cases, we have succeeded in passing resolutions within the union.

An activist committee, we have also taken active part in many of the struggles and campaigns listed above. In particular, we alerted our members to rallies against Wal-Mart taking place in the Bronxand Queensand sent members to support the strikers at Stella D’oro. We have also hosted forums on Wal-Mart, housing and tenant issues, and the 2008 presidential election.

The committee meets on a Thursday each month. Come to our first meeting on September 15 to find out our schedule or write to our committee co-chairs Nina Tribble and Bobby Greenberg at nintrbbl@aol.com and bobby9538@gmail.com, respectively.