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.

When trust is broken by someone (or something) you rely on, the impact can be deeply disorienting. In this episode of the Brewing Wellness podcast, trauma-informed therapists Suzanne Shanley and Emily Sanchez of Glass Psychotherapy describe what betrayal trauma is and how it impacts the nervous system, self-trust and attachment. They also explore how it can show up in both personal relationships and larger systems, and what healing looks like over time.