An injustice to one is an injustice to all. That’s the message UFT members in the 30 schools in Brooklyn’s District 21 sent to the principal of PS 99 in Midwood and to the Department of Education when they wore black on Dec. 4.

PS 99 members say their principal has made working conditions intolerable through micromanagement, arbitrary directives, warnings to new staff to “stay away” from veteran educators and other actions that show lack of trust.

In a tremendous show of solidarity and the power of union organizing, hundreds of UFT members across District 21 wore black that day. It didn’t matter that they weren’t dealing with the same issues or that most don’t know their colleagues at PS 99. They stood together to say all UFT members deserve to be treated with fairness and respect. Most school chapters shared photos on social media to draw more attention to the problem.

The action meant the world to PS 99 members who struggle every day. It also put the DOE on notice that it can’t turn a blind eye to a problem administrator.