LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the United
Federation of Teachers

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize the
achievements of the United Federation of Teachers as it celebrates its
50th Anniversary in March 2010; and
WHEREAS, Dignity and respect, professionalism, due process, compet-
itive wages and benefits are all critical parts of the teaching profes-
sion; and
WHEREAS, Fifty years ago, those things didn't exist for teachers in
New York City's public schools, and a patchwork of more than 100 differ-
ent and often competing organizations were available for educators to
join, but there was no one true voice and advocate for students and
teachers; and
WHEREAS, That all changed when a small group of visionaries who
believed that educators and their students were being shortchanged
successfully fought to unify the various organizations and created the
United Federation of Teachers (UFT) on March 16, 1960; and
WHEREAS, In a first step toward winning independence and dignity for
city teachers, on November 7, 1960, a one-day walkout by 5,000 teachers,
brought forth promises of collective-bargaining rights from the city and
eventually the union's first contract in June 1962; and
WHEREAS, In 1969, the UFT started a college scholarship fund that
continues to give out $1 million a year to high-achieving needy city
public school graduates; and
WHEREAS, In April 1970, public school paraprofessionals joined teach-
ers and other non-supervisory school staff as UFT members; and
WHEREAS, In 1979, the UFT launched the Dial-A-Teacher homework assist-
ance program, which now answers over 75,000 calls a year from students
and parents seeking help with homework; and
WHEREAS, In 2007, the city's 30,000 family childcare providers voted
to join the UFT, marking its largest expansion since its formation; and
WHEREAS, The UFT currently represents over 200,000 teachers, parapro-
fessionals, non-supervisory school staff, nurses, family childcare
providers, other professional staff and retired members; and
WHEREAS, Recognizing that the interests of school children and their
teachers are inseparable, the UFT combines its roles as a trade organ-
ization and an influential children's lobby to help make every public
school a place where parents want to send their children and where
educators want to work; and
WHEREAS, The UFT is a tireless advocate for quality public education
and has strongly supported and often led efforts to raise academic stan-
dards, strengthen instruction, reduce class size, create safer, more
orderly schools, improve school facilities, and increase parent involve-
ment in schools; and
WHEREAS, March 2010 marks the 50th Anniversary of the union's forma-
tion and its ongoing successful efforts to strengthen the education
profession and New York City public schools; and
WHEREAS, During those 50 years, the UFT has been led by five visionary
teachers as its president, Charles Cogen, Albert Shanker, Sandy Feldman,
Randi Weingarten and now Michael Mulgrew; and
WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body that when associ-
ations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the United Federation of Teachers;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the United Federation of Teachers.