I am a retired New York City teacher and feel I owe my comfortable and happy life to the UFT. After 30 years of teaching in the South Bronx, I retired at age 58. Although as a divorced mother of two children I pinched pennies and lived on a meager teacher’s salary, I managed to send my two children to college and spend time in Florida.

Since there are so many retired teachers living in relative ease here in South Florida, I always say there should be statues of Albert Shanker and Mel Aaronson at the gates of our community. These two union men fought long and hard to help the children and teachers of New York City.

Alice Brown, retired