UFT members in action

UFT helps push Liu, de Blasio to runoff victories

The UFT’s two endorsed candidates for citywide office, John Liu for city comptroller and Bill de Blasio for public advocate, easily defeated their opponents in the Democratic Party primary runoff election on Sept. 29 in a low-turnout election where the organization and enthusiasm of UFT members made a huge impact.

Read the New York Teacher article here.

Rally For New York

New Yorkers from neighborhoods across the city rallied at City Hall on March 5 to push for fair fiscal alternatives to the devastating budget cuts being considered in Albany and New York City. The unprecedented turnout – estimated at 70,000-75,000 – gave notice that the city’s unions and community groups will fight proposed budget cuts to public services, education, health care and other programs. The UFT played a pivotal role in the broad coalition that came together to make sure that this economic crisis is not solved on the backs of our children and our most vulnerable citizens. “Today was really the just the beginning of the work of getting the State Legislature to pass a fair budget,” Randi Weingarten said in an e-mail to members after the rally. “We need to follow up today’s rally immediately with personal outreach to each and every legislator.”

For more about this important demonstration, visit the Rally for New York page.

Unity Day

On Tuesday, Feb. 10, AFT members around the country wore blue to school to send a clear message:

• That strong education, healthcare and public services are critical elements for our country’s economic recovery,
• That budget cuts to education, healthcare and public services will hurt, not help, our economy.

For more photos of UFT members wearing blue, go to the UFT online photo gallery

Go to the AFT’s "Fight for America's Future: It’s Dollars and Sense" Web site for more information on this important campaign.

White House Task Force on Middle Class Working Families: Jan. 30, 2009

President Barack Obama meets with UFT/AFT President Randi Weingarten and other labor leaders in the Blue Room following a signing of an Executive Order for a White House Task Force on Middle Class Working Families on Jan. 30, 2009.