Andy Pallotta, the president of New York State United Teachers, the UFT’s state affiliate, praised members of the union for their perseverance and commitment to their students, patients and jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic as he opened the 2021 Representative Assembly via Zoom on April 30.

Pallotta, a Brooklyn-born elementary school teacher and former UFT District 10 representative, told the 2,679 delegates and 513 alternates who attended the two-day event virtually that health care and education professionals represented by the state union went above and beyond to work through whatever challenges they faced.

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten echoed Pallotta’s comments, saying, “Throughout all this, New York’s members have shown up, at the front lines. And for all you do, especially during this nightmare, thank you!”

Weingarten made note of how the union’s Election Day successes helped address issues like vaccines, safety in education, labor and the economy, while adding, “the dawning we see now did not happen by magic. It was your activism, your willingness to do your part.

“We won the most important election in history last November,” she said.

UFT members were well-represented among the honorees at the convention. One of the winners of the Not for Ourselves Alone: The Sandy Feldman Outstanding Leadership Award was Catalina Fortino, a former UFT and NYSUT vice president.

Also honored with video presentations were Federation of Nurses/UFT member Nancy Barth Miller, who was named Health Care Member of the Year; UFT paraprofessional Dorothy Kamps, one of the School-Related Professional Members of the Year; and UFT Retired Teachers Chapter member Donald Nobles, one of the Retiree Members of the Year.

UFT Vice President for Career and Technical Education High Schools Sterling Roberson served as the convention committee chair.

Among the elected officials who offered praise to NYSUT members for meeting the challenges of the past year were U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, State Attorney General Letitia James, State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, State Sen. John Liu from Queens and Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, the chair of the education committee, who was a member of NYSUT and the UFT for 35 years.

For complete coverage, including video tributes to the honorees, go to NYSUT.org.