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Resolution on the UFT's 64th anniversary: March 16, 2024
The UFT resolves to continue our founders’ work to preserve public education, protect workers’ rights and do our part in solidarity with our fellow workers to fight for a nation and world where we all can live and thrive in our workplaces and in our...
UFT Mental Health Helpline
If you are experiencing emotional distress, need resources or a referral, your union-trained mental health counselors can offer immediate, confidential help.
Testimony on the preliminary budget for FY 25, the preliminary Capital Plan for FYs 24-28 and the Fiscal 24 preliminary Mayor's Management Report
UFT President Michael Mulgrew submitted testimony before the NYC Council Committee on Education at its hearing on the preliminary budget for Fiscal Year 2025, the preliminary Capital Plan for Fiscal Years 2024-28 and the Fiscal 2024 preliminary Mayor...
School Counselors Conference 2024
Hundreds of school counselors gathered at UFT headquarters for their chapter’s 20th annual conference. Eager to connect and network with colleagues, counselors heard from UFT leaders and speakers in the field and participated in a day of professional development workshops.
UFT Iftar Dinner 2024
The UFT Muslim Educators Committee celebrated its first Iftar dinner on March 15 at UFT headquarters. Members broke their Ramadan fast, prayed, socialized and celebrated.
Lunar New Year Banquet 2024
More than 350 UFT members, family and friends gathered at a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown on March 15 for the UFT Asian Heritage Committee’s annual Lunar New Year banquet.
Paraprofessionals Chapter elections this spring
Every three years, you have an opportunity to elect a school chapter leader, a paraprofessional representative for your school as well as the leadership of the citywide Paraprofessionals Chapter.
The United Federation of Teachers partners with Vibrant Emotional Health to launch mental health helpline for nearly 200,000 educators
Vibrant Emotional Health, one of the nation’s leading mental health organizations, announces a new partnership with the UFT to introduce a mental health and emotional well-being helpline designed for its union members.
UFT Lobby Day 2024
Nearly 1,000 educators, parents and advocates traveled on buses to attend the UFT’s annual Lobby Day in Albany. They asked state lawmakers to add more checks and balances to mayoral control of New York City public schools, fix Tier 6 of the pension system, require the city to follow the state's class size law and increase state foundation aid for New York City.
UFT Social Workers Appreciation Day 2024
More than 1,000 school social workers gathered at UFT headquarters and remotely on March 8 for a day of professional learning focused on holistic wellness.
Testimony on remote learning failures in New York City public schools
UFT President Michael Mulgrew submitted testimony before the New York City Council Education Committee’s oversight hearing on remote learning failures in New York City public schools.
UFT Lobby Day
Every March, hundreds of UFT members board buses and head to Albany to advocate for our legislative priorities and share their experiences with state representatives. Learn more about Lobby Day and how you can get involved.
Testimony on the installation of solar systems and battery storage in city buildings and schools
UFT Vice President Rich Mantell submitted testimony before the New York City Council Environmental Protection, Resiliency and Waterfronts Committee’s oversight hearing on the installation of solar photovoltaic systems and battery storage capacity on...
Testimony on implementing the state class size law in New York City
UFT Assistant Secretary Michael Sill delivered testimony before the New York City Council Education Committee on the implementation of the New York State class size law in city schools.
Reawaken your spirit
March brings us from deepest winter to the brink of spring. Learn the benefits of embracing the change in season and applying “spring cleaning” energy to yourself.
Testimony on streamlined college acceptance of NYC public high school graduates
Janella Hinds, UFT Vice President for Academic High Schools, delivered testimony before the New York City Council Education Committee and Higher Education Committee on streamlining college acceptances for NYC public high school graduates.
Self-Care For The Caregiver
Caregiving can be both a challenging and rewarding role. In this episode of the Brewing Wellness podcast, Christopher Chin, a licensed master social worker and the director of the UFT Welfare Fund Retiree Social Services Department, clarifies common misconceptions about caregivers and discusses why it is essential to care for yourself while caring for others. Learn ways to replenish yourself physically and emotionally so you can be present for yourself, as well as for someone else.
Acts of kindness
If you dwell on the negative, reliving frustrations and anger, you can feel trapped inside those emotions. Conversely, when you focus on the things you are grateful for, it can have a ripple effect on your mood and your entire day.
Shawnequa Holt-Pate, supervisor of school security
Shawnequa Holt-Pate supervises close to 60 school safety agents on Staten Island and coordinates between an NYPD precinct and the schools within it. She belongs to the UFT’s Supervisors of School Security Chapter.
If you want to help a student, ask a teacher
UFT Vice President Richard Mantell writes that the holidays may be long over, but the giving is not. It’s what we educators do. We provide our students with the resources they need to succeed in life, whether it’s educating them in the classroom...
New agreement for VNS Health nurses
Federation of Nurses/UFT members who are Licensed Nurses employed by VNS Health overwhelmingly ratified a contract on Jan. 29 that provides a 15% pay increase over two years, additional money for experience differentials and improvements in...
Victoria Lee becomes UFT treasurer
Teachers’ Retirement System Board teacher-member trustee Victoria Lee was elected UFT treasurer by the union’s Executive Board. Lee filled the spot left vacant by the retirement of Debra Penny, who stepped down as UFT treasurer in December.
Collaborative roles key with small groups
The Department of Education has recently encouraged special education and integrated co-teaching teachers to prioritize targeted small-group instruction, including station teaching. That shift has meant that I’ve had to learn new classroom management...
Queens swim coach saves drowning student
“Twenty eyes are better than two” is a refrain that swim team members at John Adams HS in Queens hear from their coach, physical education teacher Alex Navarrete, encouraging them to watch out for one another’s safety. They found out how true it is...
Revised nurses contract on Staten Island
The Federation of Nurses/UFT members at Staten Island University Hospital-South ratified a revised contract with Northwell Health that increases wages and steps and puts them on par with nurses at other unions that have negotiated contracts in the...
Required minimum distributions
TRS notifies affected members each spring about the required distribution from their TDAs. This year, members will receive an email rather than a letter in the mail.
Optional rider reimbursement
Each year at the beginning of March, eligible retired members receive a partial reimbursement from the UFT Welfare Fund for the cost of an optional drug rider that provides prescription coverage from their insurance carrier.
Getting in SHIP-shape will cover out-of-pocket costs
For $120 a year, UFT retirees who are members of the Retired Teachers Chapter can obtain supplemental benefits that reimburse them for some out-of-pocket expenses, including ambulance rides, dental work, hearing aids and private-duty nursing.
Remember the achievements
William Faulkner famously said, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” In our politically forgetful society, many forget what happened in politics last month, let alone what happened two or three years ago.
Many happy (tax) returns and other helpful acts by former counselor
While many people were in the midst of holiday preparations or celebrations on Dec. 23, UFT retiree Theresa Hambel was taking a course on changes to federal tax law. It was part one of her annual training as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program...
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
This Q&A answers many common questions regarding IEP planning and meetings, including updates from the 2023 DOE-UFT contract.
Florida Center wants you — in person!
The UFT Florida Center in Boca Raton is now open each weekday, and members can stop by any time from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A ‘sense’ of what some students need
The Sensory Exploration, Education and Discovery (SEED) program at PS 171 in Queens takes place in a special room with a rock-climbing wall, a brightly colored tunnel to crawl through, a swing and trampoline. These components are powerful tools to...
The fight to eliminate Tier 6 inequities
One of the greatest benefits of UFT membership is having a guaranteed retirement allowance when you retire. But for members who joined the retirement system after April 12, 2012, their defined-benefit pension is not equal to what more veteran members...
Three pension bills signed in December
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law three state bills in December that incrementally improved UFT members’ pension benefits.
Staging a great night on Broadway
About 500 new UFT members had the chance to see “How to Dance in Ohio” at Teachers Night on Broadway on Feb. 1. “It was complete joy,” said UFT Vice President Karen Alford, who leads the union’s new member initiative. “The show spoke to all of us as...