At the Federation of Nurses/UFT’s annual Nurse Recognition Awards dinner on May 8, about 200 nurses and their guests gathered inside Shanker Hall at union headquarters to celebrate 19 hospital and homecare nurses for holding firm in contract negotiations this year and continuously advocating for better training and support for nurses as well as patient care often in work environments that sought to prioritize profit.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

UFT members made the need to “Fix Tier 6” “visible” by participating in the union’s first “6” days campaign Day of Action. Members across the city showed support for fixing Tier 6 of the state’s pension system by advocating to lower the retirement age for Tier 6 members to age 55 after 30 years of service. Every month on the 6th, members will participate in a coordinated action in support of fixing Tier 6, culminating with a rally in Albany on March 8.

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.