Cara Matthews
New York Teacher Senior Editor/Reporter
Retirees join the fight
Retirees at the Staten Island Borough Office knit and crochet stuffed animals, blankets and other goods to support the UFT's Making Strides against breast cancer efforts, while other retirees joined members in various walks throughout the city and Long Island.
What to know about RMDs
About three-quarters of UFT members participate in the Tax-Deferred Annuity program. Retirees who are 73 or older must withdraw a certain percentage of funds – known as required minimum distributions (RMDs) — from the tax-deferred annuity each year. Here's all you need to know about RMDs.
Retirees work the phones to elect Mamdani
In the weeks leading up to the Nov. 4 election, the Retired Teachers Chapter held a dozen afternoon phone banks at UFT headquarters in Manhattan, where RTC members urged fellow retirees to vote for Zohran Mamdani and the union’s other endorsed candidates.
From the world of dance to psychoanalysis
Retiree Carla Levy has taken the deep listening skills and willingness to help people that she used as a dance musician at Fiorello H. LaGuardia HS of Music and the Performing Arts into her second act as a psychoanalyst.
Education caught in cro$$fire
UFT President Michael Mulgrew warned of the serious repercussions for public schools stemming from the Trump administration’s attacks on health care and education.
Premium-free health care secured
Premium-free health benefits for city workers have been secured for the next five years under a new contract between the city and municipal unions establishing the NYCE PPO plan. The plan, administered jointly by EmblemHealth and UnitedHealthcare, will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
Weingarten book signing
Warning that democracy and public education in the United States are imperiled, Randi Weingarten discussed her new book — “Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy” — at the event with about 170 union members and guests.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks
Hundreds of UFT members in all five boroughs and on Long Island participated in the Making Strides walks on the last two Sundays in October, raising money for breast cancer research and awareness.
Free legal assistance for UFT retirees
The UFT Welfare Fund Retiree Legal Plan with Elder Law Supplement offers many benefits, but the five that UFT retirees use the most are assistance with estate planning, elder law, civil litigation, real estate and matrimonial law.
Feeding others to feed the soul
Retired teacher Luann Martin gives back to her community by volunteering with the Feeding with TLC soup kitchen operated by Trinity Lutheran Church on Staten Island.