Senate Resolution No. 5084

BY: Senator PARKER

COMMENDING the United Federation of Teachers upon
the occasion of hosting its Spring Education
Conference

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made
significant 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 to be held on Saturday, May 19, 2018;
and

WHEREAS, The Spring Education Conference is held each spring to
celebrate, nurture and inspire the United Federation of Teacher's work
as public school educators; 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
classroom paraprofessionals, along with school secretaries, attendance
teachers, guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers, education
evaluators, 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, Under the leadership of Michael Mulgrew, the UFT serves as
both a trade union and as 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, 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 been in the forefront of such
causes as raising academic standards, strengthening instruction,
reducing class size, and creating safer, more orderly schools with
improved school facilities; and

WHEREAS, As part of its goal to foster educators' professional
development; the UFT's educational programs, in affiliation with local
colleges and universities, offer a full spectrum of workshops and

graduate-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
organizations 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
transmitted to Michael Mulgrew, President, United Federation of
Teachers.