Brooklyn State Sen. James Sanders Jr. (second from right) meets with (from left) UFT Treasurer Victoria Lee, UFT Assistant Treasurer Tom Brown and UFT President Michael Mulgrew at the union's legislative reception in Albany.
UFT President Michael Mulgrew and other union officers gathered at the Corning Tower Observation Deck in Albany on Jan. 29 to make the case for the union’s 2024 legislative priorities with state lawmakers.
“We have a lot of challenges, as always, in front of us,” UFT President Michael Mulgrew told them.
He asked lawmakers to reject Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to modify how Foundation Aid is calculated, a change that would result in New York City losing $132 million.
Mulgrew also criticized her proposal to end the state’s “hold harmless” policy that ensures school districts get at least as much school aid as the previous year.
“We’re not going to allow things to go backward,” he said.
Mulgrew and NYSUT President Melinda Person, who also spoke, called on state legislators to support improving Tier 6 pension benefits.
The union’s other priorities in Albany include checks and balances on mayoral control, affordable housing for educators, and more state funding for Teacher Centers and United Community Schools.