Editorials

We are family

May 10, 2007 2:18 PM

The union’s state affiliate, NYSUT, conducted a most successful annual convention, its Representative Assembly, in Washington a couple of weeks ago. The theme was unity because for the first time the RA included New York chapters of the National Education Association. Last year, NYSUT and New York NEA voted to join together.

In New York — and perhaps, someday nationally — teacher unions are bridging over their differences to create a larger, stronger, more comprehensive union. (Full coverage of the historic RA is in the state edition.)

This might be a good time to reflect on the teacher union family that UFT members are a part of. Many members, especially newer members, may not be aware of what a large family this is. The UFT, technically Local 2 of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, is the largest local in the country. We have about 158,000 members, of whom approximately 50,000 are retired. There are some 86,000 in-service teachers, secretaries, guidance counselors, social workers, psychologists, physical and occupational therapists, librarians, speech teachers, hearing education service providers and lab specialists, 17,000 paraprofessionals and several thousand nurses and others.

The UFT is part of the New York State United Teachers, which has 585,000 members. NYSUT represents people who work in, or are retired from, New York’s schools, colleges, and healthcare facilities. Members include classroom teachers, college and university faculty and professional staff, school bus drivers, custodians, secretaries, cafeteria workers, teacher assistants and aides, nurses and healthcare technicians.

NYSUT is a federation of more than 1,200 local unions, ranging in size from tiny locals of fewer than 10 members to the UFT.

In turn, NYSUT is part of the AFT, which has 1.3 million members, 3,000 locals and 43 state affiliates.

Many prominent Americans have been AFT members, including John Dewey, Albert Einstein, Hubert Humphrey, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt, Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, former Senate Majority Leader and Ambassador to Japan Mike Mansfield, former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, and former United Nations Under Secretary and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ralph Bunche.

In addition to the obvious benefits of belonging to large, politically connected and savvy organizations, there are member benefits at all levels. They include such things as discounts on various kinds of insurance, financial services, travel, car rentals, entertainment, books, magazine subscriptions, union-made clothing and many, many more.

If you have not yet done so, familiarize yourself with our state and national cousins and all the things they have to offer at www.nysut.org and www.aft.org.

Ours is a large and friendly family.

The union’s state affiliate, NYSUT, conducted a most successful annual convention, its Representative Assembly, in Washington a couple of weeks ago. The theme was unity because for the first time the RA included New York chapters of the National Education Association. Last year, NYSUT and New York NEA voted to join together.

In New York — and perhaps, someday nationally — teacher unions are bridging over their differences to create a larger, stronger, more comprehensive union. (Full coverage of the historic RA is in the state edition.)

This might be a good time to reflect on the teacher union family that UFT members are a part of. Many members, especially newer members, may not be aware of what a large family this is. The UFT, technically Local 2 of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, is the largest local in the country. We have about 158,000 members, of whom approximately 50,000 are retired. There are some 86,000 in-service teachers, secretaries, guidance counselors, social workers, psychologists, physical and occupational therapists, librarians, speech teachers, hearing education service providers and lab specialists, 17,000 paraprofessionals and several thousand nurses and others.

The UFT is part of the New York State United Teachers, which has 585,000 members. NYSUT represents people who work in, or are retired from, New York’s schools, colleges, and healthcare facilities. Members include classroom teachers, college and university faculty and professional staff, school bus drivers, custodians, secretaries, cafeteria workers, teacher assistants and aides, nurses and healthcare technicians.

NYSUT is a federation of more than 1,200 local unions, ranging in size from tiny locals of fewer than 10 members to the UFT.

In turn, NYSUT is part of the AFT, which has 1.3 million members, 3,000 locals and 43 state affiliates.

Many prominent Americans have been AFT members, including John Dewey, Albert Einstein, Hubert Humphrey, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt, Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, former Senate Majority Leader and Ambassador to Japan Mike Mansfield, former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, and former United Nations Under Secretary and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ralph Bunche.

In addition to the obvious benefits of belonging to large, politically connected and savvy organizations, there are member benefits at all levels. They include such things as discounts on various kinds of insurance, financial services, travel, car rentals, entertainment, books, magazine subscriptions, union-made clothing and many, many more.

If you have not yet done so, familiarize yourself with our state and national cousins and all the things they have to offer at www.nysut.org and www.aft.org.

Ours is a large and friendly family.