Union pushes for systemic equity

At a March 4 legislative reception in Albany, UFT leaders pressed lawmakers to advance a slate of policies aimed at improving equity across New York’s education system, from retirement benefits to school funding and early childhood care.

More than 200 lawmakers, advocates and education stakeholders attended the event, held at the Corning Tower Observation Deck at Empire State Plaza. Among them were Gov. Kathy Hochul, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and state Education Commissioner Betty Rosa.

A central focus of the union’s advocacy remained reforming Tier 6 of the state pension system. Established in 2012 under then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Tier 6 added eight years to the retirement age available in earlier tiers, among other unfavorable changes. Union members across the city have been calling on lawmakers to allow members to retire at age 55 with 30 years of service and receive full pension benefits, arguing that the current structure — raised retirement age and reduced benefits — has made the education profession less attractive.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew acknowledged progress has been made to fix Tier 6 in recent years, thanks to UFT-led campaigns. He credited the governor and Legislature with enacting two rounds of reforms, including reducing the vesting period from 10 years to five. He also thanked lawmakers for supporting the union on other priority issues, such as expanding United Community Schools and UFT Teacher Center sites and making investments in career and technical education.

Still, he emphasized that further changes are needed to bring Tier 6 in line with earlier tiers as well as long-term workforce needs. “I know we’re up here and we’re talking about Tier 6 a lot,” Mulgrew said, drawing a lighthearted response from Hochul, who quipped that Tier 6 is “all I hear about.”

UFT Political Director Vanecia Wilson framed the reception as a platform to push for broader systemic fairness. She urged lawmakers to use their influence to ensure that public school communities — particularly those serving high-need populations — receive adequate and equitable support. “We must use our collective power and voice to ensure our public school communities are protected and never left behind,” she said.

Union officials called for updates to the state’s Foundation Aid formula, the largest source of education funding. They argued that the current calculation underestimates the true cost of educating students in New York City and should be revised to better reflect regional expenses. Additional proposed changes include increasing funding weights for English language learners and students with disabilities, as well as introducing new considerations for students in foster care or experiencing homelessness.

On child care, the union signaled its willingness to partner with state and city leadership on expanding access to universal care for children under age 5, including the emerging 2-K program. Representing roughly 8,000 home-based providers, the UFT is advocating for higher wages, funding formulas that reflect providers’ actual operating costs and automatic rate adjustments to keep pace with inflation.

The union also outlined several additional legislative priorities, including:

• Raising top tax rates on individuals and corporations earning or raking in profits of more than $5 million annually.
• Opposing the expansion of federal voucher-style programs in New York.
• Placing new limits on charter school growth. The UFT specifically has called for ending policies that require public schools to cede space to charter schools if that space is needed to reduce class sizes.