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Testimony on the mayor's November financial plan

UFT President Michael Mulgrew submitted testimony before the New York City Council Committee on Finance on the impact of the mayor's proposed budget cuts.

Reignite your holiday spirit

Give yourself permission to slow down, relax and find your own unique ways of celebrating the season.

Mayor Adams must protect children’s right to shelter

The United Federation of Teachers is calling on Mayor Adams to abandon his administration’s plans to evict children and their parents from the city’s emergency shelters after 60 days.

Jewish Heritage Committee Awards Dinner 2023

UFT members and their families filled Shanker Hall on Nov. 30 for the Jewish Heritage Committee’s first awards dinner. The committee honored AFT President Randi Weingarten and City Councilmember Julie Menin for their practice of tikkun olam, a Hebrew phrase meaning to repair the world.

What should I do if my principal includes guidance in a staff/school handbook that contradicts our UFT contract?

Speak with your chapter leader or district representative. While a handbook may reiterate an existing provision of a collective bargaining agreement or Chancellor’s Regulation, a handbook cannot be contrary to or modify a provision of a collective...

Testimony on immigrant students in New York City public schools

Mary Vaccaro, UFT Vice President for Education, submitted testimony before the New York City Council Education and Immigration Committees Oversight Hearing on immigrant students in New York City public schools.

The Gift of Boundaries: Prioritizing Your Needs

We have all experienced the downside of not setting and maintaining healthy boundaries in our lives. In this episode of the Brewing Wellness podcast, Alexa Leigh Mulee, a licensed mental health counselor and owner of Wise Mind Counseling, and Christine Hanley, field liaison with the UFT Teacher Center, share their strategies for creating and managing mindful boundaries. Learn skills to help manage your emotions in effective and healthy ways. 

Putting the ‘giving’ in Thanksgiving

"I got a scarf!" 6-year-old Daisy exclaimed to her friends as she excitedly pulled a pink knitted scarf out of her bag. The scarf matched her new winter coat and the pink heart painted on her face by a Queens Technical HS cosmetology student.

More than 300,000 NYC students in high-need schools stuck in oversized classes

United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew, joined by parents, educators, advocates, and elected officials, announced today that a union survey has shown that — despite the claims by critics — more than 300,000 students in the city’s...

New Retiree Luncheon 2023

More than 500 recent retirees attended the annual New Retiree Luncheon on Nov. 21 at the New York Hilton Midtown. UFT President Michael Mulgrew and Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy congratulated the honorees on reaching the well-deserved milestone and encouraged them to stay involved with the union by joining the RTC.

Thanksgiving Luncheon 2023

The UFT Middle Schools Division hosted its annual Thanksgiving Luncheon and winter coat giveaway on Nov. 18 for students living in shelters throughout New York City, many of whom come from asylum-seeking families. Students explored a variety of activities, enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal and received brand new winter coats donated by UFT members and staff.

Federation of Nurses/UFT Professional Issues Conference 2023

About 225 Federation of Nurses/UFT members spent Nov. 17 at union headquarters in Manhattan learning about local, state and national issues affecting their profession, including staffing shortages and understaffing. They attended workshops on workplace deescalation techniques, social media best practices, self-care and other topics, and also networked with colleagues from other sites.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew on City Hall cuts to education funding

UFT President Michael Mulgrew issued a statement regarding the deep budget cuts announced for New York City public schools.

What is DASA training?

The Dignity for All Students Act mandates that anyone applying for a New York State teaching license or certificate after December 31, 2013 complete six hours of training on harassment, bullying and discrimination in schools.

Resolution to promote humanitarianism in the Middle East

The United Federation of Teachers calls upon those working to de-escalate the conflict also work to promote humanitarianism. The UFT remains committed to the founding principles of building across differences for a better world.

Can co-teachers in an Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) class cover for each other during preparation periods?

No. Two teachers--one general education and one special education--must be present for all periods of ICT instruction required by students' IEPs. Co-teachers may not cover for each other during preparation periods.

School Psychologists Appreciation Day 2023

School psychologists gathered in person at Shanker Hall and remotely for their chapter’s annual Psychologists Appreciation Day professional development on Friday, Nov. 10. Between networking, collaborating and socializing, the psychologists learned about strategies to support students with executive dysfunction.

UFT Statement on DOE–SCA Proposed Capital Plan

The UFT issued a statement in response to the proposed five-year capital plan recently issued by the New York City School Construction Authority.

Overheated classrooms hamper teaching and learning

Effective communication

Communication is essential for building positive relationships at work. It fosters teamwork and collaboration, and it helps everyone to thrive. But what are the building blocks of good communication? 


Better tool to assure special ed compliance

The new contract establishes school-based Special Education Committees and annual training of all staff on special education rules and regulations. Vice President for Special Education MaryJo Ginese writes that these new rights will empower members...

William Valentin, paraprofessional for hearing impaired students

As a one-on-one paraprofessional in a third and fourth grade DHHES classroom at PS 333 in the Bronx, William Valentin supports Deaf and hearing impaired students with their communication, educational and behavioral needs.


Paras get Teacher’s Choice money

After years of advocacy by the UFT, paraprofessionals will be included in the Teacher’s Choice program for the first time this school year.


No longer alone

A pre-K teacher and the UFT chapter leader at PS 150 in Queens, Jeanine Bradley has found her voice as an advocate, both in the community and at her school, for people with Crohn’s and for her fellow educators. And she makes sure her students, no...

Make connections with hexagonal thinking

How do you teach elaboration, “adding on” and targeted vocabulary without making student discussion feel forced? Enter hexagonal thinking.

The over-80 crowd

Of the 80,000-plus retirees and spouses who receive a pension check each month, more than 17,000 are 80 or older.

Tax-deferred annuity can boost retirement income

If you are a member of TRS or BERS, you have a voluntary, supplemental savings plan in addition to your define benefit pension. This savings plan with low fees allows you to build personal savings on a tax-deferred basis. 


Protecting kids on social media

State Attorney General Letitia James and Gov. Kathy Hochul — along with UFT President Michael Mulgrew — unveiled new legislation to safeguard children online on Oct. 11 at UFT headquarters.

Florida Center’s Day at the University

The Retired Teachers Chapter and the UFT Welfare Fund are proud to present an in-person series of educational, thought-provoking and entertaining lectures as part of the UFT Florida Center’s Day at the University. Please join us for one or all of...

Easing tension and defusing pain as a chaplain

Susan Kramer has always been the type of person that people gravitate toward when they are struggling with a life dilemma or need advice and support. After retiring at the end of the 2020-21 school year, she saw an ad for a course with the United...

Targeted support for retired paraprofessionals

A monthslong UFT initiative to reach out to retired paraprofessionals, connect them with union services and support, and encourage them to get involved in the Retired Teachers Chapter culminated with a meet and greet at UFT headquarters on Sept. 19.

Staying vigilant vs. Big Pharma

It’s unclear whether the pharmaceutical corporations like being called Big Pharma. Nicknames for monopolies, such as Ma Bell for AT&T, were comforting in an earth mother sort of a way. But in senior circles, Big Pharma is uttered with contempt.

Day at the University in NYC

‘Lots of smiling faces’

At the PS 14 family resource fair in Queens, more than 400 PS 14 family members and students checked out information booths from 15 partner organizations, participated in activities like board games and dancing and took advantage of book giveaways...

Integrated co-teaching classes

Students in Integrated Co-Teaching classes are intentionally grouped together based on similarity of need to receive specially designed instruction. Specific protocols have been established to ensure this model is successful for all participants...

Support for asylum-seeking families

We are facing a crisis in our school system that we are handling largely on our own: Over the past 18 months, more than 20,000 children from asylum-seeking families have arrived in our schools. Yet no one in leadership seems to be talking about or...