At the Delegate Assembly on Jan. 14, UFT President Michael Mulgrew updated delegates on the union’s work to expand access to affordable child care and addressed a range of national, state and city issues affecting educators.

Mulgrew reported that the union joined Gov. Kathy Hochul at a press conference announcing the expansion of child care for 2-year-olds — known as 2-Care — in New York City, along with the addition of 3-K and pre-K seats where needed.

“In order to make ends meet, especially in a city like New York, you need access to child care, whether that’s part of the education system or just the 2-Care system,” Mulgrew said. “You need that access, and we’re happy to be part of trying to make it work.”

The expansion of 3-K and pre-K requires hiring additional early childhood teachers, said Mulgrew, noting that Mayor Zohran Mamdani “wants to dramatically expand 2-Care by using home child care providers who are represented by your union.”

Turning to national events, Mulgrew warned that conditions were “getting worse and worse by the month,” citing protests following the fatal shooting of a substitute teacher by an ICE agent in Minneapolis among other actions brought by the Trump administration. “I find this unimaginable,” Mulgrew said. “I didn’t think we’d be going backward this far this fast.”

Mulgrew noted that the union has already held more than 75 workshops in city schools to help protect students from ICE activity and that more are planned.

Mulgrew said newly appointed city Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels, a former chapter leader who previously worked in the UFT’s grievance department, was focused on fixing the NYC Solves math program and implementing the reduced class size initiative.

On the union’s Fix Tier 6 campaign, Mulgrew said it would be the UFT’s priority during the newly begun New York State legislative session. He praised chapter leaders for the success of their Fix Tier 6 actions on Jan. 6, including participation by 600 schools. He reminded delegates that there would be additional actions on the 6th of February and March, followed by a massive March 8 rally in Albany.

“Tier 6 is disrespectful and we’re going to change it,” Mulgrew said.

Mulgrew also addressed pay inequities affecting UFT paraprofessionals, attributing them to the city’s long-standing pattern bargaining policy. Those conditions make it necessary for the City Council to pass the RESPECT check legislation, adding that once the City Council begins its new session of legislative work in earnest, “we’ve been assured that we’re at the top of the list.”