UFT members celebrated past, present and future union leaders on Teacher Union Day by mourning founder George Altomare on the anniversary of the union’s first strike and honoring the new school-based Contract Action Teams and others who carry on his legacy.

About 1,500 UFT members and their families packed the ballroom of the New York Hilton Midtown on Oct. 29 for the annual event, which took place a week before the anniversary of the union’s 1960 strike that led to collective bargaining rights.

Jonathan Fickies

UFT President Michael Mulgrew kicks off the day by discussing the importance of remaining true to the union’s foundational beliefs and mission.

The new DOE-UFT contract, which was ratified in June, is notable for its many gains and no givebacks. In initial negotiations with the city and the Department of Education, members of the 500-member UFT Negotiating Committee were told “no” when they demanded more autonomy and less paperwork. Then the Contract Action Teams mobilized members for public grade-ins to explain how DOE mandates took valuable time away from instruction, UFT President Michael Mulgrew said.

“If that one action had not happened, we would not have been able to get reductions to paperwork for every functional chapter and more time for educators to work on behalf of children,” he said. “That is the power of union membership.”

The Charles Cogen Award for outstanding service by a veteran leader — the highest honor the union gives to a member — went to UFT Treasurer Debra Penny [see article at right].

Jonathan Fickies

Manhattan Borough Representative Carl Cambria, the UFT’s chief negotiator, accepts the Jules Kolodny Award for leading the 500-member UFT Negotiating Committee to the new contract agreement.

UFT Manhattan Borough Representative Carl Cambria, the UFT’s chief negotiator, won the Jules Kolodny Award for his stellar leadership of the UFT Negotiating Committee. Cambria, like Kolodny, began his career as a social studies teacher and has been “at the epicenter of all the important decisions in this union,” Mulgrew said.

In his acceptance speech, Cambria reflected on his first contract vote in 2005, when he voted “yes” despite his concerns about it. “Scorching earth is quick and easy. It can be done alone and in darkness, and it may feel like change, but it is destruction,” he said. “Real change takes time. It’s hard, and it must be done together.”

Eighty-eight chapter leaders received Ely Trachtenberg Awards for building strong and vibrant chapters, the backbone of the UFT.

Social Workers and Psychologists Chapter Leader Raul Garcia received the Sidney Harris Award, which recognizes a strong advocate of special education. Victoria Lee, the newest teacher-member of the Teachers’ Retirement System board, received the David Wittes Award.

The Backer/Scheintaub Award, recognizing new union leaders, was presented to Special Project Coordinators Trisha Arnold and Emily James for spearheading the union’s contract campaign and organizing the “Listen Up: The reality is…” educator panel. James also conceived the “Students of NYC” social media campaign to elevate student voices.

“The reality is we’re standing here because people inside our union saw us and heard us and uplifted our voices, so our goal has been to uplift as many amazing voices in our school community as we can,” said Arnold, a former Brooklyn chapter leader.

Rashad Brown, an assistant to the staff director, received the Audrey Chasen Award. He said the award represents not just his efforts but the “collective work of a team dedicated to inclusivity, advocacy and support.”

Marsh/Raimo Awards were given to six UFT members for notable political activism. Albert Lee Smallheiser Awards went to 10 members and field staff who have improved their colleagues’ working conditions.

The day concluded with a special tribute to Altomare, who died in August.

“He was a very special man,” said Mulgrew. “For me as president, he made sure to constantly remind me where north was and to make sure we always went that way.”

The attendees first watched a six-minute video of Altomare recounting the working conditions of New York City public school educators in the 1950s and the actions he, fellow union founder Albert Shanker and others took to create the UFT.

Altomare was renowned for singing “Solidarity Forever” with his guitar at the close of countless union events. With the lights dimmed and cell phone flashlights shimmering in the darkness, attendees sang along to a video montage of Altomare’s many performances of the song.