LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the United Federation of Teachers upon
the occasion of hosting its Spring Education Conference and Gala Lunch-
eon

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made signif-
icant contributions to the quality of life therein; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the United Federation of Teachers upon the occasion of hosting its
Spring Education Conference and Gala Luncheon on Saturday, May 8, 2010;
and
WHEREAS, This fine event included the presentation of the John Dewey
Award which took place at the New York Hilton Hotel; and
WHEREAS, The United Federation of Teachers recognized its overall
achievements as it celebrated its 50th Anniversary in March of 2010; and
WHEREAS, The United Federation of Teachers (UFT), which represents
approximately 200,000 people, is the sole bargaining agent for most of
the non-supervisory educators who work in the New York City public
schools; it represents approximately 87,000 teachers and 19,000 class-
room paraprofessionals, along with school secretaries, attendance teach-
ers, guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers, education eval-
uators, nurses, laboratory technicians, adult education teachers and
53,000 retired members; and
WHEREAS, The UFT was founded in 1960 as Local 2 of the now 1.4
million-member American Federation of Teachers (AFT); the union is also
affiliated with the 600,000-member New York State United Teachers
(NYSUT) and belongs to the AFL-CIO and the New York City Central Labor
Council; and
WHEREAS, The UFT also represents teachers and other employees of some
charter schools and private educational institutions; the allied Feder-
ation of Nurses/UFT represents some 2,800 registered nurses of the New
York City Visiting Nurse Service and several private New York City
hospitals and health care institutions; and
WHEREAS, The UFT combines its roles as a trade union and as an influ-
ential 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, In its traditional role, the UFT negotiates for fair and
competitive salaries, enhanced professionalism and improved working
conditions, not only to benefit its members, but also to help recruit
and retain the best educators for New York City schools; as an advocate
for public school students, it regularly lobbies for appropriate school
funding by the city, state and federal governments; and
WHEREAS, In addition, the UFT has strongly supported and often led
efforts to do the following: raise academic standards and strengthen
instruction; reduce class size; create safer, more orderly schools;
improve school facilities; and increase parent involvement in schools;
and
WHEREAS, As part of its goal to foster educators' professional devel-
opment, the UFT's educational programs, in affiliation with local
colleges and universities, offer a full spectrum of workshops and gradu-
ate-level courses to some 30,000 members annually; the union's
nationally acclaimed Dial-A-Teacher program, in affiliation with the New
York City Department of Education, offers homework assistance to more
than 75,600 public school students and parents every year; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those organiza-
tions which enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and
have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have
earned our recognition and applause; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the United Federation of Teachers upon the occasion of hosting
its Spring Education Conference and Gala Luncheon; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Michael Mulgrew, President, United Federation of Teachers.