Cara Matthews

Low salaries for New York City public schools’ paraprofessionals have led to thousands of vacancies, unserved students and personal financial crises, UFT members said at a March 9 City Council hearing on legislation for an annual $10,000 paraprofessional RESPECT check.

Teacher Jacqueline Armento's development and coordination of the Law Institute at John Bowne HS in Queens earned her recognition at this year’s UFT Career and Technical Education Awards night, where she received a UFT CTE Educators Award.

About 200 members gathered for a day of self-care, reflection and community at the UFT’s annual HERstory Celebration Brunch in honor of Women’s History Month.
The event, organized by UFT Vice President Janella Hinds, was designed to support members' physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.

More than 200 UFT members filled Shanker Hall at union headquarters on February 27 to break the Ramadan fast during the UFT Muslim Educators Committee's third annual Iftar dinner. The event was joined by guests including Mayor Zohran Mamdani and schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels.

Hundreds of students from dozens of high schools across the city learned about union careers and benefits from the New York City unions represented at the UFT Academic High School Division’s ninth annual Future in Focus career fair.

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 Tier 6 retirement benefits to school funding and early childhood care, including 2-K.


Whatever the reason a retiree may decide to take a job after retirement, they need to follow specific rules to avoid jeopardizing their pension or Social Security benefits.

The RTC's Labor Solidarity Project offers retirees an outlet to practice their union activism, proudly standing with striking nurses and with other causes.

UFT retirees who are members of the Retired Teachers Chapter can join the Supplemental Health Insurance Program (SHIP) during their first year of retirement and recoup hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars for out-of-pocket medical expenses, including ambulance rides, dental work, hearing aids and private-duty nursing.