The city Department of Education employs a variety of school related professionals who play an essential role in supporting the varied needs of students. They number more than 46,000 in total and belong to 23 DOE titles, from audiologists to lab specialists. The UFT organizes these school related professionals into what the union calls functional chapters (headed by chapter leaders, pictured on this page) because what unites the members in each group is their job or function.

What is a functional chapter?

Functional chapters are made up of UFT members who perform a particular job rather than work together at a school or worksite. Functional chapters were formed to allow UFT members with common issues and concerns to have a voice on the job.

Do functional chapters have their own contracts and their own chapter leaders?

Many functional chapters have their own DOE-UFT contracts. Functional chapter members elect a citywide chapter leader to represent them. School-based functional chapter members also belong to a school chapter and vote for a school chapter leader. Therefore, school-based functional chapter members receive support from their school chapter leader and their functional chapter leader.

What’s the largest functional chapter in the UFT?

The largest in-service functional chapter, by far, is the Paraprofessionals Chapter, which has about 26,000 members.

What is the role of the functional chapter leader?

Functional chapter leaders advocate for the common concerns of their members and handle individual and citywide issues confronting members. Functional chapter leaders serve three-year terms and are elected at the same time as school chapter leaders.

How can I find out more about my functional chapter?

Functional chapters have their own sections on the UFT website under “Chapters.” If you aren’t receiving email from your functional chapter leader, please sign up for a website account or, if you already have an account, log in, go to My Account, click Edit, scroll down and select "Subscribe" to Receive UFT Emails.

If you have any questions about your contract, your workplace rights, your health benefits or union-provided professional development as a functional chapter member, call the UFT at 212-331-6312.