UFT

Eid Mubarak to all celebrating Eid al-Fitr! See resources for recognizing your students here: uft.org/eid-al-fitr

UFT Lobby Day 2026 was a success! Our presence and participation were vital in making our voices heard in Albany. Together with hundreds of UFT members, parents and community leaders, we advocated for the legislative priorities of our schools, families and students. By sharing your stories and engaging with state legislators, you helped put a human face on the issues affecting our communities. The discussions and connections made during this event, and during citywide virtual lobby days held in schools, will lead to positive changes in our education system. Incredible work was done by all who participated! If you haven't already, please keep the pressure on by sending our pre-written email to legislators asking them to support our priorities: bit.ly/4by4OX9

National Deaf History Month is celebrated from March 15 to April 15, honoring the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. The UFT wants to take this chance to honor our members and students who are part of this vibrant community. This graphic depicts the Deaf flag, designed by French Deafblind artist Arnaud Balard. One of the symbols in the flag is a hand, representing sign languages and those who use them. Also shoutout to our Deaf/HoH Educational Services functional chapter! bit.ly/4lwZU16

Here’s what’s going on with Tier Six 👉 Swipe to stay up to date with the latest on reforming our pensions. Let's keep pushing state lawmakers to fix Tier Six — we’ll get this done! If you have not done so already, please send this pre-written email to your legislators asking them to support our priorities in the final state budget. bit.ly/41cdgqh

Pension consultants do SO much for our members! These experts help every member work toward a secure financial future. Last Friday, UFT pension consultants gathered to discuss strategy, challenges and next steps to keep our pensions growing! 📈 UFT Assistant Treasurer and TRS Chair Tom Brown joined too – underscoring that this group is at the heart of our pension support for members. ♥️ THANK YOU, UFT pension team! 💰

Shout out to PS 45 in Staten Island for getting started on Virtual Lobby Day yesterday! Members came together at lunch to discuss our union priorities and contact state representatives about why we need these changes. And they celebrated the day with a UFT birthday cake for our 66th anniversary! All week long, chapters are hosting Virtual Lobby Day sessions continuing our advocacy from Monday's busy day in Albany. Tag us in your Virtual Lobby Day photos this week to be featured here! 😃

Tier 6 impacts ALL of us. UFT paras & teachers spoke with fellow Tier 6 member, @SenatorPersaud, in Albany today. We’re in this together, so we stand together. It’s time to #FixTier6 and demand real pension reform.

Parent leaders, community advocates, and @UFT standing together to show the true power of unity. Our collective voice becomes stronger in advocating for the education, well-being, and future of our children. 🤝📚✨ Ty @SenatorCCleare @SenatorSerrano @AlexBores @SenatorRJackson

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the UFT! Wishing you a day full of good luck.🍀

Always proud to stand with our public school teachers. New York City has incredible schools, and ensuring they have the funding, classroom space, and professional development they need will always be a top priority. We must also treat teachers and public employees fairly — including fixing the inequities between pension tiers. @UFT @nysut

A great meeting with some of the best educators in our city! We must #FixTier6 to retain & recruit new teachers, improve our Foundation Aid formula, deliver universal childcare, increase professional development funding & much more. Always proud to stand with @UFT.

District 75 members in Albany today! 👏

About 1,000 UFT members are arriving in Albany for Lobby Day 2026! Educators are in the State Capitol today making the case for our union priorities. Stay tuned for updates from our meetings with representatives 😎

The UFT was founded 66 years ago today on March 16, 1960. 🎉 Since then, generations of educators have joined together to fight for our rights as public workers. Take a walk down memory lane here: uft.org/your-union/our…

Happy birthday to us! The United Federation of Teachers was founded 66 years ago today on March 16, 1960.

Register your students for a college and networking event hosted by UFT Team High School in collaboration with the UFT Office of Parent and Community Engagement. For each college fair, teachers may register students for a one-hour visit. More info/registration link: bit.ly/3MY2iBa

Coalminers played a key role in shaping the 20th century labor movement. Facing dangerous conditions and low pay, the United Mine Workers of America, under the leadership of Greek immigrant Louis Tikas (March 13, 1886 – April 20, 1914), went on strike in Colorado. Tikas was born in Crete and immigrated to Denver at age 20. Tikas became an organizer with the UMWA by 1912 and in September 1913, he led the charge as 13,000 miners went on strike in Colorado. The Ludlow strike camp functioned as a city with 500 men, 350 women, 450 children and a Greek bakery and coffee shop. After months of tension and skirmishes, the Colorado governor sent the National Guard to intervene. On Monday, April 20, 1914, the day after Greek Orthodox Easter, the National Guard encircled the camp and opened fire. 25 people were killed including Louis Tikas in the Ludlow Massacre. The strike lasted for 14 months and was a major moment in 20th century labor history. Tikas is remembered as a hero and martyr. Today, a statue at the site of the strike honors him. #GreekAmericanHeritage The Hellenic American Educators Association/UFT represents members of the Greek community working in the New York City public school system. Learn more and join the committee here: uft.org/get-involved/u…

The UFT Honors Ellen Bloom, a longtime teacher of homebound students who loved to sing, dance and write music. Bloom, who was a special education teacher in Brooklyn, retired after a 31-year career with NYC public schools. Learn more and share your condolences here: ufthonors.uft.org/bloom/

It's almost time to🎵 get on the bus, get on the bus 🎵 to Albany for Lobby Day 2026! Road trip hype music is essential for our journey upstate. We already have a playlist going — add your favorite road trip tunes here: bit.ly/4leBJVk

Learn more here: uft.org/lobbyday

Each year, UFT members travel to Albany and hold in-person meetings with state officials. We share our stories and put a human face to the issues: why we need to fix Tier Six, why funding should go to this or that program, and more. At the same time, UFT chapters participate in virtual Lobby Day from their schools, continuing to educate fellow members and advocate for our union priorities.