new teacher q & a

How can I tell if I'm a UFT member?

Sep 25, 2008 2:46 PM

A: It’s not so surprising that you are not sure about being a UFT member. Many new teachers think that membership is automatic. Wrong. 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.

You actually have to sign up to become a UFT member — and you may have done so already. But with so many forms to fill out, maybe you forgot what you signed. You can check by looking at the deduction codes on 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” without a dash, you are not a member.

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.

If it turns out you are not a member, joining is very simple. Your chapter leader can give you a UFT membership form or you can enroll online by clicking the Join the UFT link. It makes sense to join because nonmembers still pay an “agency fee” — roughly equivalent to union dues — because the union represents them in negotiations for salary and other valuable benefits. As a member, you qualify for a wide variety of discounts, group plans and — let’s not forget — the right to have a say in union decisions.