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UFT Lobby Day 2025

About 1,000 UFT members and parents spent March 10 in Albany, lobbying legislators and hearing from Gov. Kathy Hochul and other state officials on key issues for the union. They spoke with lawmakers about fixing Tier 6, banning cellphones in schools, providing adequate state aid to schools, protecting students and school communities from cuts to federal aid, and maintaining vital UFT programs like United Community Schools and the UFT Teacher Center.

Energized UFT Lobby Day participants display placards about protecting children and fixing Tier 6 as they prepare to lobby their legislators in groups at Lobby Day in Albany on March 10, 2025.

Energized UFT Lobby Day participants display placards about protecting children and fixing Tier 6 as they prepare to lobby their legislators in groups.

Jonathan Fickies
Two sisters who are also paraprofessionals smile for a photo on while on the UFT bus as it arrives in Albany for Lobby Day on March 10, 2025.

Sisters and paraprofessionals (from left) Irma Harry, of PS 152 in Brooklyn, and Eva Harry, of PS 9 in Brooklyn, on the UFT bus as it arrives in Albany for Lobby Day.

Jonathan Fickies
District 5 members gather to discuss issues with an aide to state Sen. Cordell Cleare of Manhattan at Lobby Day in Albany on March 10, 2025.

District 5 members gather to discuss issues with an aide to state Sen. Cordell Cleare of Manhattan.

Jonathan Fickies
District 21 members meet with an aide to Brooklyn state Sen. Kevin Parker in the Convention Center in Albany during Lobby Day on March 10, 2025.

District 21 members meet with an aide to Brooklyn state Sen. Kevin Parker in the Convention Center in Albany.

Jonathan Fickies
Members of Districts 27 and 30 arrive at Empire State Plaza for Lobby Day in Albany on March 10, 2025.

Members of Districts 27 and 30 arrive at Empire State Plaza.

Jonathan Fickies
Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks to UFT members at Lobby Day in Albany on March 10, 2025.

Gov. Kathy Hochul gets loud cheers in the Convention Center when she pledges to enact a “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban across the state so that educators can “finally teach without distraction.”

Jonathan Fickies
State Rep. Maritza Davila of Brooklyn responds to concerns and questions from District 32 members in the Convention Center during Lobby Day in Albany on March 10, 2025.

State Rep. Maritza Davila of Brooklyn responds to concerns and questions from District 32 members in the Convention Center.

Jonathan Fickies
Manhattan parents are greeted by UFT Political Director Vanecia Wilson (front, crouching) when they arrive in Albany for Lobby Day on March 10, 2025.

Manhattan parents are greeted by UFT Political Director Vanecia Wilson (front, crouching) when they arrive in Albany.

Samantha Wilner
District 3 members meet with Manhattan state Sen. Robert Jackson in the Legislative Office Building during Lobby Day on March 10, 2025

District 3 members meet with Manhattan state Sen. Robert Jackson (standing at back, center) in the Legislative Office Building.

Hannah Loesch
District 32 members get onstage at the Convention Center for a group photo after lunch at Lobby Day on March 10, 2025.

District 32 members get onstage at the Convention Center for a group photo after lunch.

Jonathan Fickies
District 75 members gather with union leaders at the Convention Center during Lobby Day on March 10, 2025.

District 75 members gather with union leaders at the Convention Center.

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Energized UFT Lobby Day participants display placards about protecting children and fixing Tier 6 as they prepare to lobby their legislators in groups at Lobby Day in Albany on March 10, 2025.

Energized UFT Lobby Day participants display placards about protecting children and fixing Tier 6 as they prepare to lobby their legislators in groups.

Jonathan Fickies
Two sisters who are also paraprofessionals smile for a photo on while on the UFT bus as it arrives in Albany for Lobby Day on March 10, 2025.

Sisters and paraprofessionals (from left) Irma Harry, of PS 152 in Brooklyn, and Eva Harry, of PS 9 in Brooklyn, on the UFT bus as it arrives in Albany for Lobby Day.

Jonathan Fickies
District 5 members gather to discuss issues with an aide to state Sen. Cordell Cleare of Manhattan at Lobby Day in Albany on March 10, 2025.

District 5 members gather to discuss issues with an aide to state Sen. Cordell Cleare of Manhattan.

Jonathan Fickies
District 21 members meet with an aide to Brooklyn state Sen. Kevin Parker in the Convention Center in Albany during Lobby Day on March 10, 2025.

District 21 members meet with an aide to Brooklyn state Sen. Kevin Parker in the Convention Center in Albany.

Jonathan Fickies
Members of Districts 27 and 30 arrive at Empire State Plaza for Lobby Day in Albany on March 10, 2025.

Members of Districts 27 and 30 arrive at Empire State Plaza.

Jonathan Fickies
Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks to UFT members at Lobby Day in Albany on March 10, 2025.

Gov. Kathy Hochul gets loud cheers in the Convention Center when she pledges to enact a “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban across the state so that educators can “finally teach without distraction.”

Jonathan Fickies
State Rep. Maritza Davila of Brooklyn responds to concerns and questions from District 32 members in the Convention Center during Lobby Day in Albany on March 10, 2025.

State Rep. Maritza Davila of Brooklyn responds to concerns and questions from District 32 members in the Convention Center.

Jonathan Fickies
Manhattan parents are greeted by UFT Political Director Vanecia Wilson (front, crouching) when they arrive in Albany for Lobby Day on March 10, 2025.

Manhattan parents are greeted by UFT Political Director Vanecia Wilson (front, crouching) when they arrive in Albany.

Samantha Wilner
District 3 members meet with Manhattan state Sen. Robert Jackson in the Legislative Office Building during Lobby Day on March 10, 2025

District 3 members meet with Manhattan state Sen. Robert Jackson (standing at back, center) in the Legislative Office Building.

Hannah Loesch
District 32 members get onstage at the Convention Center for a group photo after lunch at Lobby Day on March 10, 2025.

District 32 members get onstage at the Convention Center for a group photo after lunch.

Jonathan Fickies
District 75 members gather with union leaders at the Convention Center during Lobby Day on March 10, 2025.

District 75 members gather with union leaders at the Convention Center.