Latest news with #UFT
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Teachers union prez handily wins reelection in low-turnout race
Michael Mulgrew handily won re-election as United Federation of Teachers president Saturday, clinching more than half the votes for his sixth term. Mulgrew got 54 percent of the vote, sources said. His closest competitor, A Better Contract candidate Amy Arundell, netted 32 percent, according to numbers obtained by The Post. Olivia Swisher, the candidate from the Alliance of Retired and In-Service Educators, finished third with approximately 14 percent of the vote. All told, 201,791 ballots were mailed in with 413 voided for various reasons. The full and complete count was announced around 3:30 p.m. via Instagram. Sources revealed fewer than 30 percent of eligible UFT voters mailed ballots in. 'Apathy prevails in this union of educators,' offered retired teacher Arthur Goldstein, an A Better Contract candidate for assistant secretary. The votes were counted by the independent Global Election Services. It was the slimmest margin of victory since Mulgrew's first run more than a decade ago, sources said. In 2022, Mulgrew's Unity party won with 66 percent of the votes, besting United For Change's then-34 percent. Mulgrew's new three-year term begins July 1.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
UFT President Michael Mulgrew reelected to top NYC teachers union post
NEW YORK — United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew won his reelection bid Saturday, edging out two rival candidates who challenged the longtime incumbent over his handling of retiree health care and dissatisfaction with the status quo. Mulgrew's caucus, known as Unity, secured 54% of the vote this election cycle, compared to 32% and 14% for the opposition slates, A Better Contract ('ABC') and Alliance of Retiree and In-Services Educators ('ARISE'), respectively. More than 58,300 UFT members cast ballots — the highest voter turnout in a teachers union election in recent years. 'I want to thank the tens of thousands of UFT members who put their trust in Unity and in our work on behalf of the union,' Mulgrew said in a statement. The UFT is New York City's second-largest, public-sector union — with nearly 200,000 active and retired teachers, paraprofessionals and other members. With his latest victory, Mulgrew, the UFT president since 2009, has won six consecutive elections, but by increasingly smaller margins. In 2022, Unity won roughly 66% of the vote, while the opposition slate in the race secured 34% of ballots. This year's election results continued that trend. The results cap off a particularly invigorated election cycle, including an unsuccessful legal challenge by A Better Contract over in-person voting. In recent months, Mulgrew campaigned on the passage of the state's 2022 class size law, took a sharply critical stance of Mayor Eric Adams' relationship with the Trump administration, and tried to push through legislation to boost pay for paraprofessionals. ARISE brought together three caucuses, including the progressive Movement of Rank and File Educators ('MORE') and 'Retiree Advocate,' which last year toppled Mulgrew's ally who led the Retired Teacher chapter. The ARISE coalition, led by Olivia Swisher, a middle school art teacher in Brooklyn, hoped to harness the anger against Mulgrew over efforts to move former city workers onto privatized health care, known as Medicare Advantage, which retired teachers said could diminish their care. Acknowledging those headwinds, Mulgrew has since withdrawn the UFT's support for the the plan, which would have provided the city with hundreds of millions of dollars in annual savings. A Better Contract was led by Amy Arundell, a former top borough official at Unity. She left the caucus after she was removed from her position overseeing all union matters in Queens amid controversy over a pro-Israel union resolution. ABC, too, stood against the switch to Medicare Advantage. The insurgent bids seized on a growing anti-incumbent sentiment, which most recently played a part in the ouster of longtime health care labor leader George Gresham of 1199SEIU, who POLITICO reported used member dues to benefit himself, his family and political allies. Driven in part by that feeling, voter turnout increased by 15% since last election, according to the results. Both slates insisted that pay raises in the last contract did not keep pace with the cost of living. Mulgrew's rivals have also accused current leadership of not giving the rank and file enough of a voice in union matters and also of backroom dealings. In particular, some of his critics took issue with the city's new reading curriculum mandates, which were announced alongside the UFT, which they said threaten teacher autonomy and professionalism. The UFT president and other newly elected officers will serve three-year terms, starting on July 1.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Flyer urging teachers to divest pension funds from Israel is illegally distributed in NYC schools: ‘Violated trust'
A controversial antisemitic flyer urging teachers voting in union elections to back a campaign to divest pension funds from Israel was improperly distributed in some New York City public schools, The Post has learned. The incendiary petition circulated as two Israeli Embassy staffers were killed by a suspected terrorist in Washington, DC, on Wednesday night. 'This UFT election season, vote for candidates who divest our pension from genocide,' the flyer said. 'Sign the petition to show UFT candidates that you will be voting with divestment in mind during the election.' Jewish civil rights groups such as the Anti-Defamation League said the economic boycott, divestment and sanctions movement is antisemitic because it seeks to undermine and destroy the world's only Jewish state. Pro-Israel teachers said the handout had been distributed to at least three Manhattan schools: two in the same building on West 17th Street, the New York City Lab for Collaborative Studies Middle School and the Museum High School, as well as the Mosaic Preparatory Academy elementary school on East 111th Street, and at least one in the Bronx. Outraged teachers said the flyer has been handed out in schools by teachers claiming to be UFT officers, or who were not from their schools. 'I was definitely shocked. It violated the trust in the building. It came from a teacher from another school,' a staffer at the 17th Street building said. 'These are blood libels. They don't belong in the education space.' Another teacher who requested anonymity said, 'As a Jewish educator, I was deeply troubled when receiving this letter with clear antisemitic undertones — especially in the wake of the tragic killing of two civilians targeted for being Jewish. 'This act of hate is unacceptable. Our schools and communities must remain places of inclusion and respect for all.' Karen Feldman, co-founder of the New York City Public School Alliance, blasted the use of 'school channels to distribute political and antisemitic propaganda, especially during a union election.' 'The materials were filled with false claims of genocide and hate-filled rhetoric that incites violence — just like the horrific murder of two Israeli Americans in DC just last night.' The UFT said distribution of politically charged flyers violated its rules for electioneering for its internal elections of running for union positions are allowed to distribute campaign material about the slate they're running on — but not about other political issues. 'The flyer is a political document. No one should be handing out political materials under the guise that it is campaign material in the union's internal election. It is not,' a spokesperson for the UFT and president Mike Mulgrew said. A rep for city Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos said the flyers are being removed from schools. 'New York City Public Schools has the right and responsibility to prohibit the distribution of materials that can be perceived as disruptive and offensive to staff and students. These flyers, which were not created by New York City Public Schools, are clearly disruptive, and we are taking appropriate action to remove them,' a Department of Education spokesperson said. The anti-Israel advocates said the New York City Teachers' Retirement System has $135 million of pension funds invested in Israeli holdings. The flyer said the Israeli military has slaughtered tens of thousands of civilians and children since Oct. 7, 2023, citing the anti-Israel Al-Jazeera media outlet as a source. It conveniently omits mentioning that was the date when Hamas precipitated the war in Gaza by invading Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking scores of hostages — some of whom still have not been released. It's just the latest controversy regarding Israel-bashing literature spreading in schools. Last month, a Department of Education newsletter claiming Israel is committing 'genocide in Gaza' was sent out to hundreds of teachers — prompting fuming Jewish educators to call it out as another example of ingrained antisemitism in the city's public school system. In response, Aviles-Ramos suspended release of mass communications sent to educators, students and parents without her approval.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UFT President Michael Mulgrew reelected to top NYC teachers union post
United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew won his reelection bid Saturday, edging out two rival candidates who challenged the longtime incumbent over his handling of retiree healthcare and dissatisfaction with the status quo. Mulgrew's caucus, known as Unity, secured 54% of the vote this election cycle, compared to 32% and 14% for the opposition slates, A Better Contract ('ABC') and Alliance of Retiree and In-Services Educators ('ARISE'), respectively. More than 58,300 UFT members cast ballots — the highest voter turnout in a teachers union election in recent years. 'I want to thank the tens of thousands of UFT members who put their trust in Unity and in our work on behalf of the union,' Mulgrew said in a statement. The UFT is New York City's second-largest, public-sector union — with nearly 200,000 active and retired teachers, paraprofessionals and other members. With his latest victory, Mulgrew, the UFT president since 2009, has won six consecutive elections, but by increasingly smaller margins. In 2022, Unity won roughly 66% of the vote, while the opposition slate in the race secured 34% of ballots. This year's election results continued that trend. The results cap off a particularly invigorated election cycle, including an unsuccessful legal challenge by A Better Contract over in-person voting. In recent months, Mulgrew campaigned on the passage of the state's 2022 class size law, took a sharply critical stance of Mayor Adams' relationship with the Trump administration, and tried to push through legislation to boost pay for paraprofessionals. ARISE brought together three caucuses, including the progressive Movement of Rank and File Educators ('MORE') and 'Retiree Advocate,' which last year toppled Mulgrew's ally who led the Retired Teacher chapter. The ARISE coalition, led by Olivia Swisher, a middle school art teacher in Brooklyn, hoped to harness the anger against Mulgrew over efforts to move former city workers onto privatized healthcare, known as Medicare Advantage, which retired teachers said could diminish their care. Acknowledging those headwinds, Mulgrew has since withdrawn the UFT's support for the the plan, which would have provided the city with hundreds of millions of dollars in annual savings. A Better Contract was led by Amy Arundell, a former top borough official at Unity. She left the caucus after she was removed from her position overseeing all union matters in Queens amid controversy over a pro-Israel union resolution. ABC, too, stood against the switch to Medicare Advantage. The insurgent bids seized on a growing anti-incumbent sentiment, which most recently played a part in the ouster of longtime healthcare labor leader George Gresham of 1199SEIU, who POLITICO reported used member dues to benefit himself, his family and political allies. Driven in part by that feeling, voter turnout increased by 15% since last election, according to the results. Both slates insisted that pay raises in the last contract did not keep pace with the cost of living. Mulgrew's rivals have also accused current leadership of not giving the rank and file enough of a voice in union matters and also of backroom dealings. In particular, some of his critics took issue with the city's new reading curriculum mandates, which were announced alongside the UFT, which they said threaten teacher autonomy and professionalism. The UFT president and other newly elected officers will serve three-year terms, starting on July 1.
New York Post
24-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo banking on far-left policy shifts to win NYC mayoral race
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is ripping entire chapters out of the playbook of the Democratic party's far left faction in his bid to become New York City's next mayor, according to critics and a review of his positions by The Post. Cuomo — who resigned in 2021 amid a barrage of sexual harassment allegations he vehemently denies — began soliciting key powerbrokers to support his political comeback last year — but began his leftward tilt as polling for the Democratic primary showed his strongest challenger is extreme left Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani . 'He knows his past positions are incredibly unpopular with Democratic primary voters, who he is trying to trick and fool,' said Bill Neidhardt, a former top aide to ex-Mayor Bill de Blasio who is now part of a political action committee trying to get Mamdani elected mayor. 5 Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is ripping entire chapters out of the playbook of the Democratic party's far left faction. Facebook/Andrew Cuomo In 2014, Cuomo vehemently rejected avowed Marxist de Blasio's push to launch a universal 'pre-K' program in the NYC public schools, telling The Post at the time 'I don't think there is a rationale for it' and that it wouldn't be fair to other cities in the state to tax the rich so only de Blasio's constituents benefit. Cuomo, still the frontrunner in the race to unseat incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, did team up with other top state lawmakers that same year to provide $300 million to expand the city's prekindergarten program. He is now pledging as a mayoral candidate to make the pre-K and 3-K programs created under de Blasio 'truly universal.' 'He was one the earliest opponents for universal pre-K, so for him to say he'd do anything to expand it is pure chicanery,' said Neidhardt. Other lefty policy shifts include: Pushing to add 100 to 200 psychiatric beds to the city's hospital system after reducing the number of psychiatric beds in state hospitals by 28% from 2011 to 2021 as governor. Promising all NYC residents access to 'affordable health care,' despite enacting measures in 2020 aimed at cutting $2.5 billion from the state's Medicaid program. Suddenly becoming noncommittal on expanding a cap limiting the number of charter schools statewide to 460 after avidly supporting the idea as governor, all while trying to score an endorsement from the powerful United Federation of Teachers, which opposes expanding the cap. Declaring just last week during a candidate forum that he supports the powerful UFT's campaign to roll the retirement age of 'Tier 6' public employees hired after 2012 back to 55 years old, when, as governor, he pushed through major pension reform raising the retirement age for these workers to 63. As governor, Cuomo had a long history of raiding the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's budget to offset other state spending, including famously cutting a $4.9 million check in 2016 to help bail out three upstate ski resorts suffering financially from warm weather. But two months ago, he released a campaign transportation platform that includes exploring the creation of permanent free bus routes pending a pilot program and expanding half-priced MetroCard access for low-income residents. The transit proposal sounded all too familiar to Mamdani, who successfully lobbied for a free bus pilot program serving all five boroughs that ended last year after state funding ran out. 'They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,' said Mamdani in a March Instagram post poking fun at Cuomo. '….Just call me next time—we've got so many more ideas I could share!' 5 A social media post by Bill Neidhardt asking New Yorkers to support Zohran Mamdani's campaign for mayor. BNeidhardt/X Cuomo as governor worked with his party's far-left faction to pass a series of controversial criminal justice reforms that he still supports – including eliminating cash bail for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies. He also has a history of catering to the 'Defund the Police' movement. During the 2020 Black Lives Matters protests, he issued an executive order to strip future state funding from the NYPD and other police departments statewide that 'refuse[d] to commit to a wide-ranging plan for reform.' However, no funding from these agencies ever withheld. 5 Former Mayor Bill de Blasio (pictured) battled with Cuomo while pushing to expand universal pre-K in NYC. AP He also signed legislation in June 2020 sought by anti-police activists to repeal a section of state criminal law which shielded police disciplinary records from public view. And he has come under heavy fire for calling the 'Defund the Police' movement 'a legitimate school of thought,' though his campaign has repeatedly claimed those remarks were taken out of context. Cuomo also has a history of 'defunding' the New York State Police. During the fiscal year beginning April 2011, he cut the agency's operating budget by $45.8 million — or 6%. But with Adams, a retired NYPD captain, dropping out of the June 24 Democratic primary and opting to seek re-election in November as an independent, Cuomo is also trying to position himself as a law-and-order candidate. In March, he announced that if elected, he plans to increase the size of the NYPD's police force to 39,000 by reducing overtime costs and hiring 5,000 additional officers. 5 Here's how former Gov. Andrew Cuomo shifted left on some key issues since he first considered running for NYC mayor last year. He announced his campaign in March. Jack Forbes / NY Post Design 'A larger police presence is a deterrent to crime, improves response rates to 911 calls and gives the police the resources they need to solve crimes,' Cuomo said at the time. 'Andrew Cuomo fled to the Hamptons after destroying this city—catering to the 'Defund the Police' crowd by forcing communities to 'reimagine' policing, slashing psychiatric beds, giving us congestion pricing, gutting pensions for public workers, and unleashing chaos with his reckless bail reform,' said presumptive Republican mayoral nominee and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa. Cuomo also now opposes the controversial $9 congestion toll to enter parts of Manhattan – after being a staunch supporter of the scheme when he called the shots in Albany — and is distancing himself from rent reform legislation he signed into law in 2019. 'Andrew Cuomo changes positions like a snake sheds his skin — every month or two, and purely for self-preservation,' said Monica Klein, a longtime political strategist for Democratic and Working Families Party candidates now assisting the mayoral campaign of state Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brooklyn). 5 Cuomo is the frontrunner heading into NYC's Democratic mayoral primary. VIA REUTERS Cuomo spokesman Jason Elan defended the ex-governor's record on pre-K, saying he enacted a pilot program prior to de Blasio taking office in 2014 and that as mayor he'll make sure pre-K 'is available in every corner of this great city.' Elan also said Mamdani's criticism is 'rich coming from a silver spoon socialist who voted against his own measure to fund a free bus pilot in the state budget and then failed to get it extended.' 'There's been a ton of revisionist history and gas-lighting during this race, but these silly attacks aren't going to work,' he added. Additional reporting by Craig McCarthy, Carl Campanile and Vaughn Golden.
