For many educators in New York City, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) is supposed to be a trusted advocate, representing their interests in a system that often feels adversarial. However, frustration and disillusionment among rank-and-file members have grown significantly in recent years, fueled by what many view as the union’s increasing detachment from the issues its members face daily.
Rather than providing transparent, responsive support, the
UFT’s current leadership seems more focused on maintaining its power and
allegiance to the Department of Education (DOE) than on protecting teachers,
guidance counselors, and school staff.
Here’s a look at how the union's handling of members’
complaints, questions, and essential advocacy has deteriorated, often with
serious consequences for New York City educators.
One of the most basic ways members should be able to seek
assistance is through the union’s helpline. However, teachers and other school
staff members report that their calls are often met with robotic menus that
seem designed to frustrate rather than to help. Michelle, a third-grade teacher at an elementary school in Harlem, recounts her recent experience: “I called the
UFT for guidance on dealing with a principal who was routinely scheduling
mandatory meetings during our prep periods, which I knew was against our
contract. After navigating a maze of options and waiting on hold, I was finally
routed to an automated message that ended up hanging up on me. When I finally
reached someone on a second attempt, they told me to ‘speak to my district rep’
without any clear guidance on how to do that.”
This impersonal and ineffective phone system only serves to
deepen frustration and anxiety among members who are already overwhelmed by
their daily responsibilities.
Ideally, district representatives would be chosen based on
their effectiveness, knowledge, and advocacy skills. But in reality, district
reps are selected more for their loyalty to the UFT administration than for
their ability to support members. Daniel, a science teacher from a middle
school in the Bronx, shared how his district rep, though personable, seemed
unprepared and uninterested in addressing his school’s concerns. “We’ve had
issues with overcrowding and lack of resources for years, but our rep never
seems to bring these issues up with union leadership. When I asked him
directly, he just shrugged and said, ‘These things take time.’ It feels like
he’s more interested in keeping his position than actually advocating for us.”
This practice has created a network of district reps who are loyal to union administration but often out of touch with the real issues teachers are facing, leaving schools and staff to fend for themselves.
When members approve a contract, they expect the union to uphold it. But for many
teachers, contract violations by principals and DOE officials are rarely, if
ever, challenged by the UFT. Maria, a bilingual guidance counselor at an
elementary school in Brooklyn, described how her principal regularly asked her
to work through her designated lunch periods, a direct violation of her
contract. “I filed a complaint with the union, hoping they would step in, but I
never heard back. A few months later, I learned that the union had apparently
discussed my complaint with the principal—behind closed doors, and without my
involvement.”
Maria’s experience is unfortunately common. Many teachers feel that the union’s leadership is more interested in appeasing principals and DOE officials than in upholding the rights of their own members.
Perhaps the most significant betrayal of trust is the way the UFT has
negotiated away essential health and welfare benefits without members’ consent.
In the last MLC negotiation (the body the UFT heads to negotiate health and
welfare benefits), the union accepted a deal that increased out-of-pocket costs
for many members and reduced certain healthcare benefits, including mental
health services that have become crucial as the demands on teachers grow. Tom,
a math teacher previously at Washington Irving High School, feels particularly
disappointed: “We’re already stretched thin financially, and then they go ahead
and make it harder for us to access healthcare. It feels like they sold us out
to save a few bucks.” This lack of protection for health benefits, particularly
at a time when they are so necessary, has left many members questioning the
union’s commitment to their welfare.
Union leadership insists that delegate assemblies offer a
platform for open discussion and democratic decision-making. However, many
delegates report that these meetings are heavily scripted, with little
opportunity for genuine questioning or debate. Joanne, a delegate from a school
in Queens, described her frustration: “Whenever I try to ask a real question
about our contract negotiations or the lack of support for our Chapter Leaders,
I’m either ignored or given a canned response. It’s clear they don’t want
dissent; they want agreement.” The lack of transparency and open discussion has
created a stifling atmosphere, where dissent is quietly suppressed rather than
openly addressed.
The union’s failure to maintain an organized structure
within schools is another serious concern. Many schools are left without
Chapter Leaders, making it difficult for staff to communicate effectively with
the union or to advocate for necessary changes. Schools without Chapter Leaders
often struggle with critical issues like unsafe working conditions, overcrowded
classrooms, and a lack of resources. Sarah, a cluster teacher at an elementary school in
Brooklyn, has been working at her school for three years without a Chapter
Leader. “Without someone to represent us directly, it’s like we’re invisible to
the union,” she explains. “Whenever I try to reach out for help, they tell me
to go through my Chapter Leader—which I don’t even have!”
When it comes to negotiations with city officials, the UFT’s
ineffectiveness has become glaringly apparent. Despite Mayor Eric Adams’
administration facing various corruption scandals and a revolving door of DOE
leadership, the union has made little progress in advocating for its members.
The lack of stability in the DOE should theoretically be a bargaining chip, but
the UFT has failed to use it to its advantage. Instead, teachers feel the union
is more likely to make compromises than to stand firm on important issues.
John, a special education teacher in Staten Island, put it
this way: “It feels like our union is more interested in making nice with the
Mayor’s Office than actually securing us a fair contract. Adams is indicted,
his DOE leadership changes constantly, and yet the UFT is content with settling
for weak compromises that don’t actually protect us.” This lack of strong
bargaining only weakens the union’s influence and leaves educators feeling
abandoned in the face of systemic issues.
The union’s behavior has left many teachers feeling as
though they no longer have a voice within their own organization. As the UFT
continues to ignore contract violations, script delegate assemblies, and sell
out vital health benefits, members are increasingly left with one pressing
question: who is the union truly working for?
If the UFT is to regain the trust of its members, it must
start with accountability, transparency, and a renewed commitment to advocate
for the welfare of educators. Without real change, the union risks not only the
erosion of its influence but also the alienation of the very people it is
supposed to represent. As long as the UFT’s leadership prioritizes loyalty,
secrecy, and compromise over its members' needs, teachers and school staff will
continue to be left without the support they deserve.
1 comment:
I've been teaching for a long time. For me, the 2005 sellout contract was the start of the downward spiral of the UFT. They used to support, fight for, and care about rank and file teachers. However, since that horrible contract, they have simply become a company union who only care about pleasing the mayor and keeping their double salary/double pension jobs. Of course, Bloomberg had a lot to do with it, but the UFT has been complicit in abandoning it's constituants. I just heard today that the UFT will NOT even send in district pension consultants to meet with chapters anymore.
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