new teacher q & a
Do I have to belong to the union? What is the benefit of joining?
Oct 18, 2007 12:10 PM
The UFT is a democratic union and no one is forced to join. Nevertheless, an amazing 96 percent of all potential members choose to become UFT members. Nor is membership automatic, a frequent misconception. You have to sign up to become a UFT member, but it’s a very simple process. Your chapter leader can give you a UFT membership form or you can enroll online.
If you aren’t sure whether or not you are a member, look at your pay stub. If the deduction code says “UFT—,” (with a dash after the “UFT”), it means you are a member; if the deduction code is “UFT,” you are an agency fee payer (more on that later).
Is that confusing? The Department of Education insists on keeping it that way. No wonder many new teachers think they are members only to discover that they are not.
As a member, you have access to valuable benefits and important rights that nonmembers don’t get. You can participate in money-saving group homeowners, auto, life, disability and catastrophic medical insurance plans through NYSUT, our state affiliate. And you can keep your insurance active during a leave of absence for a nominal fee. Also, you can get discounts on travel, car rentals, books, theater, sports and movie tickets through the UFT’s Just for Fun program and through the AFT, our national affiliate. There are even low-cost legal and financial service plans for members. And you’ll receive a copy of the New York Teacher to stay informed on many issues that affect you.
Most of all, however, you have the right to play an active role in your union and have a voice in the direction it takes. At the least, you get to vote in union elections and help choose the UFT’s leadership team in your school and citywide. When you are ready to get more involved, you can run for office yourself, representing your school’s members as a member of the chapter committee, as a delegate to the Delegate Assembly (the UFT’s largest and highest legislative body) or as a chapter leader.
Even nonmembers benefit from the union’s negotiations on such matters as salary, work conditions and health benefits since the UFT is the recognized bargaining agent for all New York City public school teachers and other units. The UFT also represents nonmembers in disciplinary situations. Since they share in so many benefits, active nonmembers pay what is called an “agency fee,” an amount equal to union dues that’s deducted from each paycheck but doesn’t entitle them to member benefits.
