When it comes to discounts and promotions, UFT membership has many advantages.
In-service and retired union members are eligible for discounts on clothing, entertainment, restaurants, travel, fitness programs, mortgages, home improvement and school/office supplies, among other things.
“These are hidden treasures for too many members who ought to take better advantage of them,” said Tom Murphy, the Retired Teachers Chapter leader. “The UFT has always been able to use its collective bargaining to negotiate the contracts that have achieved our economic and professional dignity and security for members. But that union power also helps the UFT get good deals on these wonderful extras.”
More information about all the discounts can be found in the discount section on the UFT website.
Some of the most widely used benefits are in travel and entertainment. Discounts are available for Broadway shows, concerts, Medieval Times, seasonal favorites like the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and sporting events including New York Yankees baseball, Brooklyn Nets basketball and New York City Football Club soccer. Many members also take advantage of the UFT’s $10 discounted movie tickets, which don’t expire, for Regal UA theaters.
Also popular are discounts through Hotel Engine and savings on family trips to Orlando and to theme parks through Orlando Employee Discounts. In the past year, UFT members have spent more than $250,000 on the Hotel Engine website and have saved a total of $90,000.
Other well-used discounts are at Giftbaskets.com; the New York Health and Racquet Club; New York Sports Clubs and affiliated clubs in Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.; and Michael’s and A.C. Moore arts and crafts stores.
To access the UFT discounts, members must create a UFT website account and have their membership verified. Members can also download UFT-Mobile, the union’s mobile app, log in with the same credentials and access the discounts that way.
Some deals and discounts are for in-store and online purchases; others are in-store only or online only. For questions about using your membership card for a discount, or if you want to suggest a deal or discount you would like to see added, 212-598-9512 or email customerservice@uft.org.
In addition to the UFT deals, UFT members can obtain discounts through the New York State United Teachers; the American Federation of Teachers; and Union Plus, a nonprofit founded by the AFL-CIO.
Some of the exclusive AFT member benefits are for Southwest Airlines, Hilton and Wyndham hotels, AT&T Wireless, Office Depot/Office Max, Dell computers and Dansko shoes. The AFT also offers identity-theft protection through CLC ID Protect. Members can obtain free limited coverage or comprehensive coverage for a modest monthly fee. You can sign up on the CLC ID Project website. Our local union number is 2.
NYSUT offers discounts on life, disability, home and pet insurance; auto rentals; Grand Circle Travel and Overseas Adventure Travel; 1800Flowers.com; and Heat USA (oil) and Tankfarm (propane). NYSUT’s Member Benefits Discounts and Deals program includes offers at more than 850,000 locations nationwide.
UnionPlus includes deals on car rentals, auto purchases, restaurants, personal loans, travel, health benefits, moving services, and insurance for cars, homes and rentals. It also provides college scholarships, strike benefits, credit counseling, a medical-bill negotiating service, disaster relief, mortgage assistance and furlough assistance.