UFT

🚨 FIX TIER 6 NEWS 🚨 Tier 6 reform has been passed in the state budget — and UFT members made it happen. This legislation will allow UFT Tier 6 members to retire at 58 instead of 63 with an unreduced pension. That’s five years earlier than before. A MAJOR step forward for thousands of educators. This was not by chance. It was not an accident. It happened because members across the city showed up again and again: at rallies, online, on the phones, in emails, on BUSES to ALBANY and in conversations with elected officials. 💪 We made Tier 6 visible. We made it human. We made it loud. And now, we’ve made it real. There is still more work ahead — including the fight for 55/30 for all Tier 6 members — we’re not done by any means. But this is real progress, translating into an earlier retirement for our members and a stronger financial future. Every UFT member who took action should be proud. We are not done, this is our spirit as a union. We will keep fighting until we get everything we know we deserve. ✊

In honor of Disability Pride Month, we’re celebrating the memory of Judith “Judy” Heumann, often called the Mother of the Disability Rights movement. Raised in Brooklyn, she contracted polio at age 2 and used a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Refused by her local public school as a "fire hazard" due to her inability to walk, she was homeschooled until fourth grade, then attended a special school. City policy then mandated home instruction for high school. Heumann's mother successfully rallied to reverse this policy with other parents and Heumann entered high school in 1961. At age 9, Judy began spending summers at Camp Jened, a camp for disabled children and adults in the Catskills. It was there that her activism began, discussing experiences with fellow campers and staff. In 1970, Heumann was denied her New York teaching license because the Board did not believe she could get herself or her students out of the building in case of a fire. She sued the Board of Education for discrimination, the case settled without a trial and Heumann became the first wheelchair user to teach in NYC teaching elementary school. Heumann became involved with disability rights nationwide. She was an early proponent of the Independent Living Movement, developed legislation that became the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and led the 504 sit-in protests. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act was transformative for disability rights and laid the foundation for the Americans with Disabilities Act, which turns 36 this month on July 26. In 2020, she appeared in the Oscar-nominated documentary, Crip Camp, about her time at Camp Jened and how it lead to her career as a leader in education and disability rights. Judith passed away on March 4, 2023, in Washington, D.C. You can stream Crip Camp on Netflix now!

.@UFT Paraprofessional Diana Judge works bell to bell supporting our students– then works two more jobs just to afford to live. No educator should face that. We must pass the RESPECT Check so that paras can afford to live in the city that they serve. #RESPECTforParaprofessionals

⚪@SpeakerMenin is ready to support UFT Paraprofessionals! 🔵 Like she said today on Brian Lehrer’s radio show, giving paraprofessionals a financial boost is the right thing to do… and it’s smart for the city & our schools. It will help reduce the critical staffing gap between the number of paras and students that need extra resources. A win-win for educators, students and the city. That’s why we’re proud to partner with the @NYCCouncil to move the RESPECT check forward! 💪 Let’s get it done! #RESPECTforParaprofessionals

Mental health support is now available to members 24/7, by phone, text or chat. Whether you're dealing with stress, grief, substance use or just need someone to talk to, licensed counselors are ready to help — confidentially and in multiple languages. Learn more: bit.ly/40JKfTN

You’re off the clock, but stay on brand in UFT apparel this summer! 😎 Shop summer bundles like this one at the UFT Swag Shop: bit.ly/4gZW0xu

The paraprofessional RESPECT check legislation has officially landed on City Council members’ desks and is set for a full vote on July 16. Councilmembers recently announced these updates to our proposed bill: If passed, the RESPECT checks would: - Come in four installments of $2,500 starting in 2027. - Be issued Jan. 1, Mar. 1, June 1, and Aug. 1. - Be secured in 2027 and the City Council would be allowed to reauthorize them if needed. We’ve come a long way. Our goal has always been bigger than these payments. With contract negotiations coming up in 2027, this helps guarantee money for paras BEFORE a new contract is finalized while we fight to permanently raise para salaries at the bargaining table.

As a bilingual social worker at five schools in Manhattan, Michelle Pérez guides families through the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process in English and Spanish. “By removing the stigma that is sometimes associated with the IEP, I get to empower the family to see it as a tool to support their child to grow, learn and be successful.” 🙌 Learn more about Michelle’s role in this What I Do feature: uft.org/news/member-sp…

.@NYCSchools offers #FreeSummerMeals to everyone ages 18 and under all summer long! 🍎 No registration required. Stop by a location near you to get breakfast and lunch: on.nyc.gov/SummerMeals

"Special education students are the most vulnerable kids in the building. We have the responsibility to protect their rights." UFT members fought for and won a special education complaint process to safeguard students’ welfare as well as members’ workplace rights. Swipe for steps you can take to file a complaint, and read the accounts of two UFT members, Lake Zebrowski and Becky Huffman, who successfully resolved issues using the process: uft.org/news/feature-s…

UFT Chapter Leader Shaudé Tyson knows that developing and retaining excellent educators is a must. “It’s a deeply personal mission for me. It’s how we build real capacity and stability so our schools can thrive.” Learn more about how she mentors new educators at PS 262 in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn in this Chapter Leader Shoutout: uft.org/news/member-sp…

Happy Independence Day from the UFT! #America250

Paraprofessionals are struggling with bills, groceries, necessities. It simply shouldn't be this way. Paras need pay that reflects the work they do for our educators, students and schools. It's a matter of RESPECT! Way to go, Christine and TreVaughn, for sharing your voices.

Finding legal help can be expensive, confusing and stressful. That’s why our union negotiated a Legal Services Plan, providing trusted legal help exclusively for UFT members. Lawyers from Feldman, Kramer & Monaco, P.C., can assist in-service members with issues like reviewing a lease or contract, dealing with a warranty or writing a legal letter. There is a fee at a discounted rate for UFT members for more complex legal matters. Learn more: bit.ly/4vGO6hh

Summer Rising 2026 is here! 😎☀️ @DOEChancellor Samuels and @NYCYouth Commissioner Escamilla-Davies joined students at P.S. 146 Ann M. Short in Manhattan to kickoff the Summer.

I am so honored to have earned the support and endorsement of @UFT @UFT_action! I can’t wait to continue to advocate for our teachers and our school community in the State Senate!

The @NYCSchools #FreeSummerMeals program is back! 🍌 Starting today, anyone 18 years old or younger can receive free breakfast and lunch at select NYC Public Schools, parks, libraries, and more. Learn more: on.nyc.gov/SummerMeals

We’d like to thank @SpeakerMenin & @NYCCouncil for recognizing the value of our programs in this budget, and for their continued partnership with the @UFT on behalf of NYC public schools. Now, with this real progress, we have the momentum to support our educators who need it most. We look forward to working with the Council on our paraprofessional RESPECT check legislation.

July is Disability Pride Month! At the UFT, we fight for members and students of ALL abilities. Your rights will be protected and your needs respected at work. Our union is here to support you in that! Looking to connect with fellow educators with disabilities? Check out the UFT Capably Disabled Committee. Founded in 1990, it’s an outreach effort to support members needing reasonable accommodations in the workplace, as well as providing all UFT members with useful information on disability issues. Learn more and join here: uft.org/get-involved/u…

📣UPDATE: Today, the NYC FY27 budget has been finalized. 🗽 We’d like to thank @SpeakerMenin & @NYCCouncil for listening to UFT members and shaping a city budget that reflects educators' priorities and the value of our programs. We look forward to their continued partnership with the UFT on behalf of NYC public schools. NYC schools received $800K more funding than the previous budget for key programs like our Teacher Centers, BRAVE and PROSE. These are real investments in initiatives that are proven to strengthen our school communities & support the educators we represent. With the budget finalized, and our needs prioritized, the City Council has the momentum to support our educators who need it most: our paraprofessionals. For our members, all eyes are on July 16. On this date, we expect the Council to vote our paraprofessional RESPECT check bill out of committee, to be voted on by the entire council, where we have a supermajority of support. A lot of progress from our partners in government – and we cannot wait to work with them to get the RESPECT check done this month.

Extreme heat can cause heat illness and even death. Be prepared and keep yourself and others safe by knowing your risk and following these tips. Learn more: on.nyc.gov/43APd5q