About 200 school counselors gathered at UFT headquarters on March 28 for the 22^nd annual School Counselors Conference. The UFT members who filled Shanker Hall enjoyed a full day of workshops, networking and camaraderie with colleagues.

Members of the UFT Jewish Heritage Committee gathered on March 26 with colleagues, friends and family at the UFT Brooklyn borough office for a traditional Passover meal. At this annual event, the ritualized order of the meal, or seder, was themed on connections between the exodus story and the history of the labor rights movement.

About 1,000 UFT members, parents and advocates traveled to Albany on March 16 to lobby state legislators on key issues for the union. Members demanded that lawmakers Fix Tier 6 of the state pension system and reduce the retirement age to 55. They asked legislators to increase compensation for family child care providers and provide adequate state aid to city schools. Members also made their views known to lawmakers remotely via virtual Lobby Day activities during the week of March 16.

About 200 in-service and retiree members gathered at the UFT's Bronx borough office around the theme of "PowHering Through" for the union’s 8th annual HERstory Brunch & Celebration in honor of Women’s History Month. Attendees enjoyed a day of self-care and guided reflection, and they also sang "Happy Birthday" to the UFT in advance of the union’s 66th birthday on March 16.

Some 4,000 UFT members were joined by thousands of other unionists from across New York State as they packed MVP Arena in Albany on a Sunday to rally lawmakers to “Fix Tier 6.” Members demanded that state legislators lower to 55 the age at which Tier 6 members with 30 years of service can retire without penalty. The March 8 rally culminated months of “6” days actions by UFT members to make the need to Fix Tier 6 “visible,” “human,” and “loud.” UFT members waved poms-poms, held signs and cheered loudly during the March 8 rally, making it clear that Tier 6 must be fixed, and it must be fixed now!

More than 1,000 paraprofessionals gathered at the New York Hilton Midtown on March 7 for their UFT chapter’s annual awards luncheon. The event included professional learning sessions, a resource fair and carnival, and the presentation of awards to outstanding paraprofessionals from all five boroughs.

More than 1,000 school social workers gathered online and at UFT headquarters to celebrate the 10th annual UFT Social Workers Appreciation Day for a mix of networking opportunities and professional development focused on connecting with students.

UFT members have made it “visible,” made it “human,” and made it “loud” when it comes to advocating for the need to “Fix Tier 6.”  Members are pushing state lawmakers to fix Tier 6 of the state’s pension system by lowering the retirement age for Tier 6 members to age 55 after 30 years of service. Every month on the 6th, from January to March, members have participated in a coordinated action in support of fixing Tier 6, culminating with the Fix Tier 6 rally in Albany on March 8.

The UFT Muslim Educators Committee held its third annual Iftar dinner on Feb. 27 at UFT headquarters. More than 200 members and guests attended, including schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels and Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was awarded by the committee for his championing of public education. Attendees broke their Ramadan fast with a traditional meal of milk, water and dates, and later enjoyed a hearty dinner.

The UFT celebrated the future-forward focus of career and technical educators at the 2026 Career and Technical Education Awards. Held inside Shanker Hall at union headquarters, the UFT’s Career and Technical Education Division and the CTE industry gave out about 80 awards to union members and community partners and recognized educators who have brought CTE into their classrooms.

Nearly 70 middle school educators gathered for the UFT Middle Schools Conference at union headquarters to enjoy a day of professional development, camaraderie and solidarity. They attended workshops and discussions about pensions, program preference sheets, disruptive students, building union solidarity and more.

About 150 UFT members and guests braved frigid temps to celebrate African heritage and honor educators, students and colleagues amid a snowy start to Black History Month at the 23nd annual UFT African Heritage Committee Awards Dinner.

About 50 members gathered at UFT headquarters for the annual UFT Irish American Heritage Committee celebration, where attendees enjoyed an awards ceremony, speeches, music and networking.

Nearly 1,300 members of the UFT’s Social Workers and Psychologists Chapter gathered online and in person to celebrate the union’s 20th annual Clinicians Appreciation Day with a mix of professional development, networking, community building and, for the first time, an awards ceremony.

The UFT, in partnership with the Coalition for the Homeless, hosted its annual holiday toy drive and celebration on Dec. 13 for students living in temporary housing in New York City. The students enjoyed a variety of crafts and games, as well as face-painting, henna hand art, a magic show and a visit from Santa. And thanks to the generosity of UFT members, the union was able to distribute more than 1,500 toys to public school students throughout the city.

Parents, caregivers, educators and community members convened at the UFT Queens borough office on Nov. 22 for the borough’s annual parent conference. The roughly 70 attendees learned about mental health, emergency preparedness, personal finances and more, while connecting with each other and taking time for themselves.

About 150 students living in temporary housing enjoyed a day of crafts, games, face-painting and fun at UFT headquarters on Nov. 22 to celebrate Thanksgiving and receive new winter gear courtesy of UFT members’ generosity. Headed by the UFT’s Middle Schools Division, the event provided each student with a new winter coat, a pair of gloves or mittens, a scarf and a hat to keep them warm in the coming winter months.

About 300 nurses convened at a midtown hotel for a day of professional development, including a keynote address on neurology, during the federation’s annual Professional Issues Conference.

Food pantries run by schools in the UFT’s United Community Schools network are lifelines for hundreds of needy families across New York City. The need was especially felt in late fall as a federal government shutdown delayed SNAP benefits for many and a surge in ICE detentions made immigrant populations wary.

About 265 new retirees and guests celebrated their education careers at the UFT Welfare Fund New Retiree Luncheon in Shanker Hall at UFT headquarters on Nov. 18. At a vendor fair prior to lunch, they learned about health care options like the UFT Welfare Fund’s Supplemental Health Insurance Program, as well as classes, seminars and trips offered through the Si Beagle Learning Centers, before enjoying a festive luncheon.

UFT members around the city participated in a Day of Action to show solidarity with paraprofessionals. The action was timed to coincide with the City Council’s public hearing for the “RESPECT check” bill, which would provide annual checks of at least $10,000 to paraprofessionals.

Parents, caretakers, educators and community members gathered at the UFT’s Staten Island borough office on Nov. 8 for the UFT Staten Island parent committee’s annual conference. Attendees took the day to bond with other caregivers and gained valuable information and resources during workshops on topics like keeping students safe online and parent-teacher association governance.

About 1,700 UFT members, families and friends gathered at the New York Hilton on Nov. 2, 2025, to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the 1960 strike that won collective bargaining rights for UFT members. At the union’s annual Teacher Union Day event, more than 250 individual members and chapters were honored for their exceptional work and longtime service to the union’s mission, including the members of the UFT Health Care Committee and the Occupational and Physical Therapists Chapter.

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Roughly 1,500 UFT members raised more than $198,000 for breast cancer research and patient services in this year’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks. On two Sundays in October – Oct. 19 and Oct. 26 – members walked in all five boroughs and on Long Island to raise awareness and needed funds.

More than 100 parents, caretakers, educators and community members gathered at the UFT’s Brooklyn borough office on Oct. 25 for the UFT Brooklyn parent committee’s annual conference. This year’s conference theme was “Organize and Activate,” and attendees took in workshops on school safety, political action, special education and PTA organizing.

More than 100 parents and community members gathered at UFT headquarters on Oct. 25 for the UFT’s annual Manhattan parent conference. Attendees learned about first aid and emergency preparedness, trained to become IEP (Individualized Education Program) parent members and spread the word about the rights of immigrant students and their families.

UFT members from all five boroughs of New York City wore pink on Oct. 15, 2025, to raise awareness about breast cancer.

UFT organizers of this year’s event treated 140 Bronx families to a KidZone & Community Resource Fair at the Bronx borough office. The event featured educational seminars and helpful information for parents from UFT’s Dial-A-Teacher homework helpline, the BRAVE anti-bullying initiative and partners including the Red Cross.  There also was plenty of fun — face-painting and giveaways  — for the kids.

More than 1,000 UFT members turned out in a powerful display of union pride as they marched up Fifth Avenue on Sept. 6 for New York City’s annual Labor Parade. Members paraded in solidarity with thousands of other unionists across the city, on foot, by float or atop a double-decker bus.

More than 200 UFT members turned out on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn on Sept. 1 to march alongside their colleagues and thousands of other revelers for the West Indian American Day Parade.

UFT members and their loved ones showed up and showed out on June 29 as they marched in the city’s annual Pride March, demonstrating both their LGBTQ+ and union pride.

About 160 members of the Retired Teachers Chapter gathered at UFT headquarters on June 13 for the UFT Welfare Fund Department of Retiree Programs’ 30th annual Day at the University. They were schooled on such topics as elder law and the U.S. Supreme Court, learned about luminaries including Billy Joel and John Lennon and the Beatles, and got to see New York City through the eyes of famous artists.

Some 250 school secretaries, colleagues and loved ones gathered at UFT headquarters on June 6 to celebrate the union’s 38th annual school secretaries award celebration. School secretaries were applauded for all the ways in which they contribute to their schools, from handling payroll to welcoming parents and other visitors.

The UFT organized social events in each borough this year where the union’s newest members made connections, learned more about the UFT and built community. New members took part in bowling, painting, a scavenger hunt and immersive team-building games across the city.

About 200 members, students and their guests attended the 19th annual Better Speech and Hearing Month Celebration on May 27 at UFT headquarters. The UFT Speech Improvement Chapter recognized speech teachers and their students for exceptional projects completed in speech therapy, showcasing the breadth and depth of therapies that speech teachers provide.