Cara Matthews
New York Teacher Senior Editor/Reporter
Union backs Mamdani for mayor
The UFT Delegate Assembly voted on July 8 to endorse Queens Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor in the November elections. At a news conference at union headquarters the following day, Mamdani pledged to work with the union to protect New York City public schools and support educators and students.
Embattled federal workers unite
Federal workers have faced a dizzying mix of reductions in force, firings of probationary workers, early retirements and deferred resignations since Trump became president for the second time. The Federal Unionists Network (FUN) in New York City is focused on organizing workers, fighting the federal attacks and forming alliances within the labor movement, including the UFT.
Homing in on learning
The historical curiosity of 1st-graders at Manhattan's PS 4 is sparked when co-teachers Lizette Lantigua and Yomayra Gomez take them on a class trip to the 260-year-old Morris-Jumel Mansion, Manhattan's oldest surviving residence.
3,000 additional educators hired to reduce class size
As of Aug. 6, the DOE had hired more than 2,300 educators for the 3,700 open positions for class size reduction — about 62% of the need. The progress is significant, but the UFT notes that with hiring shortages throughout the city school system, the DOE needs to do more.
Cellphone ban takes effect
The new academic year marks the start of the statewide bell-to-bell ban on cellphones and any other internet-enabled electronic communication devices in schools. The UFT successfully fought for the restriction to help students focus.
UFT demands Council speaker give 'RESPECT check' a hearing
The UFT has turned up the pressure on City Council leaders to bring the "RESPECT check" bill for paraprofessionals to a committee hearing and a vote. Forty-seven of 51 City Council members have co-sponsored the bill and more than 104,000 people have signed a petition in support of the legislation, but Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has not brought the bill to a committee hearing, which is a prerequisite for a vote.
Chapter leaders join forces
Chapter leaders of the five co-located high schools at the Walton Educational Campus in the Bronx celebrated on April 8 the grand reopening of their campus library, a result of the chapter leaders joining forces and convincing their administrators to rebuild the library and hire a librarian.
UFT wins on cellphones, class size
The new state budget legislation includes two union priorities — a cell phone ban in schools and funding earmarked for class size reduction — but UFT President Michael Mulgrew said the state’s revised funding formula used to calculate school aid hurt the city’s public schools and must be changed.
Gearing up for a long fight
The federal threats to collective bargaining, Social Security, health care and education funding loomed large at the 53rd annual New York State United Teachers Representative Assembly in Rochester in early May.
Schools enact class size plans
With the state funding that 750 schools received to bring class sizes into compliance with state law, more UFT members will have optimal teaching conditions next school year and are confident that students will benefit from the additional time and attention they receive.