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African American Day Parade 2026
UFT members turned out under rainy skies to march with the UFT African Heritage Committee for the union’s inaugural appearance in Harlem’s historic African American Day Parade.
Special Edition - The Campaign Against School Vouchers
On this special edition of UFT On Air... we're talking about the problems with school vouchers, and how the union and its partners are fighting to stop President Trump’s voucher plan from becoming a reality here in New York. UFT Communications Director Trisha Arnold takes us inside the UFT’s news conference with a broad coalition of community and labor organizations, and we’ll hear from union President Michael Mulgrew and others on why Governor Kathy Hochul needs to #OptOutNow.
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SIGN OUR PETITION: Please make your voice heard by signing our petition, urging Governor Kathy Hochul to opt out.
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The coalition members to stop school vouchers include:
- Michael Mulgrew / President of the United Federation of Teachers
- Randi Weingarten / President of the American Federation of Teachers
- Melinda Person / President of NYSUT
- L. Joy Williams / President of the NAACP New York State Conference
- Emma Allotta / President, NYC Community Education Council 10
- Lissa Zukov / Merrick CSD parent & New York State PTA
- Anthony Reid / President of the Metro NYC Chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute
- Mario Cilento / President of the New York State AFL-CIO
- Brendan Grffith / President of the New York City Central Labor Council
- Grace Lee/ New York State Assembly Member, Lower Manhattan
- Steven Raga / New York State Assembly Member, Queens
- Michael Benedetto / New York State Assembly Member, Bronx
- National Action Network
- CSEA
- HTC - Local 6 / Hotel & Gaming Trades Council
- Teamsters Local 237
- NYSNA Regional Director & Dutchess County CLC
- Subway-Surface Supervisors Association
- New York State School Boards Association
- Conference of Big 5 School Districts
- Moms Rising
- Parents Supporting Parents
- Robert Jackson/ New York State Senator
- Larinda Hooks / New York State Assembly Member, Corona, East Elmhurst
- Alliance for Quality Education (AQE)
- New York Communities for Change
- Citizen Action
- Invest in Our New York
- Education Law Center
- New York Civil Liberties Union
- NYC Metro Center
- Association of School Business Officials
- Council of School Superintendents
- School Administrators Association of New York State
- Organizing Malikah
- League of Women Voters
- City College Alumni Association
- ALIGN NYC
- IncludeNYC
- The International Network
- David Bloomfield / Professional Emeritus Brooklyn College & public education commentator
Please subscribe to UFT On Air: The New York Teacher Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts, and please share the show with your UFT colleagues!
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Read the September 2026 issue of The New York Teacher, the UFT’s award-winning newspaper.
UFT On Air is brought to you by the United Federation of Teachers
- Produced by Brian Gibbons
- Reporting by the UFT Communications Department staff
Managing Stress & Trauma Education
UFT MAP is partnering with the Center for Stress & Trauma Education on trainings focused on skills for managing stress, navigating challenging situations, and supporting emotional well-being.
Hundreds call on Gov. Hochul to reject Trump voucher scheme
Hundreds of New Yorkers from labor, parent, education and civil rights groups urged Gov. Hochul to reject President Trump's taxpayer-funded private school voucher program.
Teachers
Welcome teachers! Here you can find some important information for UFT-represented, DOE-employed classroom teachers.
Subscribe to UFT emails
Are you subscribed to UFT emails? Learn how to register, subscribe or update your email address on file with the UFT to make sure you are receiving contract updates and other important union information.
Testimony on screen time and the use of digital devices in city schools
UFT Vice President Mary Vaccaro delivered testimony before the City Council on examining screen time and the use of digital devices in New York City Public Schools.
Making the most of UFT membership
UFT members have valuable rights and a voice in their professional lives. This FAQ provides important information about how to utilize UFT membership to its fullest.
UFT On Air: Episode 1
On this first episode of UFT On Air, we'll talk with new teachers about their expectations for the new year. Then we'll sit down with Michael Mulgrew to get an update on the paraprofessional RESPECT check legislation and look ahead at our upcoming contract negotiations. From there, we'll reflect on the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks and what came after, with teachers who were there. We'll also talk about effective communication, why it matters and how to do it better, and we'll meet a UFT retiree who's now doing stand-up comedy.
Read the stories from the Sept. 11 issue of the New York Teacher:
Tips for preparing your classroom
Arranging your classroom in a way that works for you and your students is an important first step toward a successful year. Veteran teachers share ideas and tips on help you set up your classroom — whether for the very first time or as part of a...
Save the date! New retiree luncheon
The UFT Welfare Fund’s New Retiree Luncheon will be held Tuesday, Nov. 17, inside Shanker Hall at UFT Headquarters,
Welcome back!
Students accustomed to texting are in need of readjustment to classroom norms after a summer away.
Teacher’s Choice funds on horizon
The Teacher’s Choice program will again reimburse UFT-represented educators for some of their out-of-pocket expenses for supplemental instructional supplies and materials of their choice.
Elizabeth Del Rosario
Meet Elizabeth Del Rosario and learn all about her role as a high school discipline dean at the High School for Environmental Studies in midtown Manhattan.
Good talk
Effective communication fosters positive relationships among educators' colleagues and with their students. It encourages teamwork and collaboration, and it helps all to thrive. Learn the building blocks of good communication.
Caring for our health care workers
UFT Vice President Anne Goldman urges the public to understand that health care professionals are first and foremost patient advocates, and that the best patient outcomes are achieved when qualified health care professionals have all the resources...
Salary jumps 3.5% on Sept. 14
The salaries of UFT-represented employees will increase by 3.5% effective Sept. 14 as part of the 2022-2027 DOE-UFT contract that was ratified in 2023.
Scores drop on state exams
The UFT says a 6-point drop in overall ELA test scores by city public schoolchildren points to an "incompetent" implementation by the city DOE of new reading intervention programs, and the union is demanding reforms.
All about your pension benefits
UFT members are among the rare 20% of US workers entitled to a traditional pension. The defined-benefit pension enjoyed by UFT members is the gold standard of retirement plans, guaranteeing the same amount each month throughout one’s retirement...
2026-27 RTC meetings
A listing of dates and times of the meetings of the Retired Teachers Chapter for the 2026-27 school year
2026 COLA increase is 1.7%
Learn what the 2026 cost of living increase will be for retired educators and other public employees beginning with their September New York State pension checks.
Making your new year’s ‘resolutions’
The start of the school year, when the previous year is still fresh in your mind, is a great time to make some “new year’s resolutions” to improve your teaching practice. UFT Teacher Center coach and 10 th-grade social studies teacher Shawn Fisch...
Correct address needed to receive termination pay
Learn how to ensure NYC DOE has your correct address in order to receive checks for termination pay.
Become a Si Beagle instructor
UFT retirees are invited to apply to teach Si Beagle continuing education classes during the day in New York, New Jersey and Florida. Learn how.
Another option for Part D prescription drug rider
Historically, New York City coverage for the GHI Senior Care Medicare Part D prescription drug rider and the 365-day hospitalization have been a combined rider. Now, retirees can decide whether to decouple the two benefits when the annual Health...
Register for intersession Si Beagle classes
Learn when registration for intersession 2027 Si Beagle classes begins.
Living and laughing out loud
Fueled by decades of funny stories about teaching, retired 2nd-grade teacher Helaine Witt is going full throttle in making comedy her second act.
Phys ed teacher goes the extra mile
Physical education teacher Jenine DeMarzo brings culture and connection to her incarcerated students at St. John’s Residence for Boys in Queens by setting up a makeshift pickleball court in her classroom.
Battle won in war for RESPECT
The UFT vows to continue fighting tooth and nail to get paraprofessionals the RESPECT they deserve. RESPECT check legislation providing paraprofessionals with a $10,000 payment became law in August, but the battle continues as the city has taken the...
Welcome back to the front lines
Bennett Fischer, chapter leader of the UFT's Retired Teachers Chapter, welcomes retirees back to another year of impactful activism; first and foremost: the midterm elections, reminding retirees that the benefits many depend on are at stake.
Paraprofessionals win fight for missing pay
More than 100 paraprofessionals at an Extended School Year program in Queens who went without pay for five weeks banded together, and with the help of the UFT, finally received the pay due to them. Find out what to do if you suspect your salary is...
New teachers swell UFT’s ranks
More than 4,000 new teachers braved the rain to gather at Barclays Center in Brooklyn to kick off New Teacher Week. Attendees were filled with a commitment to make a positive difference in young lives and eager to join the UFT.
Gearing up to fight for a new contract
UFT President Michael Mulgrew encourages members to get ready for the start of the union's most crucial campaign: the fight for a new DOE-UFT contract. With a record 750 members, the union's contract negotiation team is getting a head start on...
Online tools to boost collaboration
Paired with the right task, online tools can help students build collaborative skills. Learn about best practices in the use of tools including FigJam, Book Creator, Kahoot and more.
US DOE restricts funds students can borrow
An overhaul of the federal student loan system that took effect on July 1 placed stricter limits on borrowing and reduced repayment options for new and existing loan-holders.
Victim Support Program
Learn about the benefits of the UFT's Victim Support Program. Co-sponsored by the UFT’s Safety and Health Department and the city Department of Education, the Victim Support Program is the place for members to turn for support when tragedy strikes...