Oct. 30, 2025

Prepare for our day of action for paraprofessionals on Nov. 13

We will hold a citywide day of action in solidarity with paraprofessionals on Thursday, Nov. 13, timed to coincide with the City Council's new hearing date for the "RESPECT check" bill. Plan activities that make sense for your chapter. If members have questions about the "RESPECT check," work with your school's paraprofessional representative to hold a teach-in using this slide presentation. Encourage everyone to wear union blue, print copies of this RESPECT sign or create your own, and gather for a group photo. Consider organizing a social media blitz targeting the City Council. You can find the council members' social media handles on this chart. See the full toolkit. However you mark the day, be sure to share your photos on your own social media and email your best shots to uftphotos [at] gmail [dot] com (uftphotos[at]gmail[dot]com). If you're planning something special and would like a UFT photographer visit your school to document it, please send an email request to New York Teacher Editor Dara Sharif at dsharif [at] uft [dot] org (dsharif[at]uft[dot]org). In your email, tell us what you have planned and how you're showing appreciation for paraprofessionals at your school.

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE: Publicize your school's day of action for paraprofessionals and prepare for the big day.

Next steps on class size

This week, your principal is receiving a survey from the DOE asking what your school needs to come into compliance with the class size law. This survey will also serve as an application for next year's class size funding for schools. Principals must respond by Dec. 3. Using these questions, start a conversation as soon as possible with your principal about opportunities to reduce class size and expand space at your school. Reducing class size is a complex process, and it's essential that UFT members have a voice as the DOE evaluates each school's needs. If your next consultation committee meeting is coming up soon, make sure class size is on the agenda. Principals are required to complete the survey in consultation with the school leadership team, so ensure SLT members are aware of the survey and actively involved in the process.

New lawsuit could put our premium-free health benefits in jeopardy

The union is sending an email today to UFT members enrolled in the GHI CBP plan alerting them that a lawsuit has been filed seeking to block the NYC Employees PPO plan. The plaintiffs are seeking a temporary restraining order. If the judge grants the order, the implementation of the new health plan would be delayed and the city and the Municipal Labor Committee would have to negotiate an extension of the GHI CBP plan with no guarantee that city workers wouldn't face premiums as early as next year. We would also lose all the expanded benefits we fought to secure in the NYCE PPO plan. The group of people behind this lawsuit have no alternative plan for protecting our health benefits and preventing monthly premiums. They are putting their self-interest, money and politics ahead of the health and well-being of New York City workers. But we won't let them win. We will fight to protect the health plan we negotiated so that our members, their families and all city workers can enjoy better health care with a five-year premium-free guarantee.

Help us get out the vote for the general election

We've entered the critical final days leading up to the Nov. 4 election, and we're making a final push to turn out the vote for our union-endorsed City Council candidates and Zohran Mamdani. This election will have major consequences for our shared priorities, including fully funding public schools, passing the "RESPECT check" for paraprofessionals and lobbying Albany to fix Tier 6 of the pension system. Join your fellow members in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island this Saturday as we leaflet at transit hubs to get out the vote. You can also participate in a phone bank from your UFT borough office on Monday, Nov. 3, from 4 to 6 p.m.

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE: Sign up for a get-out-the-vote activity on the UFT website and encourage your members to do the same.

Immigrant rights workshops across boroughs

Update: The Manhattan workshop has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 12.

The UFT is hosting in-person workshops to help members learn how they can safeguard and support their immigrant students and families. As the federal government intensifies its deportation efforts, the UFT will provide essential resources at these workshops that members can share with their school communities. The first workshop was held at the UFT Bronx borough office on Oct. 29. Members can register for one of two upcoming workshops: a Queens workshop on Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. at the UFT Queens borough office and a Manhattan workshop on Nov. 19 at 4 p.m. at UFT headquarters. All UFT members are welcome to attend. Additional workshops are being scheduled. Check with your UFT borough office for more information.

Possible yellow bus service disruption next week

Update: The school bus lockout has been averted — for now. The remaining bus operators announced on Thursday night that they were signing a series of emergency contract extensions.

There could be a disruption to yellow bus service as soon as Monday due to the city's ongoing contract dispute with school bus companies. As many as half of the bus companies are threatening to suspend service and lay off workers. Paraprofessionals and educators who work with students who rely on yellow bus service would be affected.

The DOE is preparing alternative transportation options for families that depend on yellow buses. All affected families will be offered free OMNY cards for both the student and their caregiver. In addition, the DOE will provide pre-paid rideshare options and reimbursement where needed for:

• Students who have transportation recommended on an IEP or 504 plan
• Students in temporary housing or foster care who receive yellow bus service
• Students with an approved transportation exception

The DOE plans to contact transportation paraprofessionals about accompanying their students in a rideshare (such as Uber, Lyft or a yellow cab). Please make sure any transportation paraprofessionals in your school are aware that their participation is voluntary.