Each spring, teachers complete a program preference sheet to indicate the classes they would like to teach, ranked in order from one to three. This is an important opportunity to express your preferences, but it must be completed carefully to protect your position.

You should list three different choices that are within your appointed license area. Even if you hold an additional license, listing classes outside your appointment can create flexibility for administration to place you in assignments you may not want. It is essential to only select programs you are officially appointed to teach.

Teachers should also be specific in their preferences. For example, common branch teachers may indicate a preference for ICT or general education, and special education teachers should clearly state the type of program and age range they prefer, such as ICT or self-contained settings.

This form is strictly for program preferences. Do not include personal information such as plans for retirement, leaves of absence, pregnancy, or whether you plan to return next year. Additionally, requests for cluster positions or compensatory time roles are not part of the preference sheet process and must be submitted separately when those opportunities are available.

Members are encouraged to be as detailed as possible in the designated comment section and to keep a copy of their completed sheet for at least three years for their records.

It is critical to submit the preference sheet on time. Failure to do so may result in administration assigning a program without your input.

If you believe your program assignment violates contractual rights, you have two days from receiving your program to file a reorganization grievance. Members should contact their chapter leader immediately if concerns arise.

For teachers on probation, it is especially important to select classes within your license area, as teaching out of license may impact tenure decisions.

Program preference sheets are not just routine paperwork, they are a key part of protecting your assignment. Taking the time to complete them thoughtfully can make a significant difference in your program for the following school year.

So as you fill yours out, ask yourself: Are you protecting your program or leaving it up to chance?

Dear UFT Members,

Thanks so much to everyone who has been getting the word out about David Kazansky’s campaign for re-election as a TRS Trustee. Extra thanks to everyone who has been collecting petition signatures to support the campaign and get David on the ballot.

These are our last three days to collect signatures!

CLICK HERE to download the nominating petition for David Kazansky. Here is the URL to share with everyone you know at other schools: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1osuZHljew7Gr8S9nWdaYBc_xR2hrlFhg/view

Whether you can collect 5, 10 or 100 signatures, we need your help!

Any in-service contributor to TRS can sign the petition. This includes teachers, paraprofessionals, related service providers, secretaries, psychologists, nurses and administrators (yes, principals and assistant principals can sign). Under the obtuse rules for the TRS Trustee election, a person can sign only one nominating petition. Signing a petition for more than one candidate will result in both signatures being canceled and uncounted. So make sure you are only signing for David Kazansky.
One and done!

CLICK HERE to download the nominating petition for David Kazansky. Here is the URL to share with everyone you know at other schools: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1osuZHljew7Gr8S9nWdaYBc_xR2hrlFhg/view

Included with the blank petition are detailed instructions that include a mailing address to send your collected signatures. If it is easier for you to have us pick up signed petitions from you in-person, or if you have any questions or ideas for helping, please email us at info@uftmembers.org. You can also email the David Kazansky campaign team directly at info@wetrustdavid.org.

The TRS Trustee campaign of David Kazansky and Ben Morgenroth is about accountability, transparency, and protecting our pensions. TRS is our money. UFT members need real representation that is transparent and accountable to all UFT members.

wetrustdavid.org

Let’s get this done!

Thank you and have a great Spring Break!

Let’s talk about School Based Options, also known as SBOs.

Because this is one of those topics that comes up every year, and somehow still feels rushed, unclear, or decided without enough real conversation.

Let’s fix that.

What is an SBO, really?

A School Based Option gives UFT members at a school the ability to collaboratively modify certain parts of the DOE/UFT contract or create positions that are not automatically included. That’s a big deal.

We are talking about decisions that can shape your daily work experience. This can include:

• Changes to the school schedule

• When professional development takes place

• Other Professional Work (OPW)

• Parent conference dates

• Creation of comp time positions

These are not small adjustments. These are structural decisions. And anything that impacts your day to day work deserves your voice. This process is supposed to be collaborative. An SBO can be proposed by either the principal or the chapter leader on behalf of the chapter.

But here is the key point:

This is a member-driven process. A principal cannot require an SBO vote to happen. In order for an SBO to pass, at least 55% of UFT members who vote must support it. Voting is conducted through a secure system called Election Buddy.

Let’s be clear. SBOs are not supposed to be top down. This is supposed to be collaborative decision making. Timing matters more than people realize. An SBO is only in effect for one school year. That means if your school wants to continue an SBO, it must be voted on again every year. The only exception is when an elementary school moves from an eight period day to a seven period day. This is why timing is everything.

We are approaching April break, which is exactly when these conversations should be happening. Not in June. Not last minute. Not rushed through in a single meeting.

The real issue: lack of conversation. Too often, SBOs show up as a near final decision instead of a discussion. That is where things go wrong.

The SBO process should be:

• Thoughtful

• Transparent

• Inclusive

Staff should have the opportunity to:

• Ask questions

• Understand what is being proposed

• Share concerns

• Offer ideas

Because when people feel informed, they engage. When they don’t, well, they simply don’t care.

The bottom line: SBOs work best when they reflect the collective voice of the school. Not assumptions. Not pressure. Not last minute decisions.

If the conversation is not happening in your building, it is important to ask why and to make sure it starts. Because at its core, this process is about collaboration.

And shared decision making is only real when everyone has a seat at the table.

See below for a statement from NYC Retirees, in response to UFT President Michael Mulgrew’s most recent attack on Intro 1096 earlier this week.

For a video of NYC Retirees’ Response, CLICK HERE.

This topic will be discussed more in-depth tonight, 3/13, at 5pm during NYC Retirees’ Friday Night Live: https://www.youtube.com/@nycretirees

NYC Retirees Stand Firm In Protecting Retiree Healthcare

NEW YORK, March 13, 2026 — A Response to the United Federation of Teachers Attacking Retiree Legislation That Protects Our Healthcare

For years, Michael Mulgrew, the president of the United Federation of Teachers, tried to force retired municipal employees off of traditional Medicare and into a cheap, inferior alternative called Medicare Advantage. Although this would have harmed retirees, it would have benefited active workers, as the savings achieved by diminishing retiree healthcare would have funded benefits for active workers. In order to disguise his effort to fund active worker benefits on the backs of retirees, Mr. Mulgrew falsely assured retirees that Medicare Advantage was just as good as traditional Medicare. After retirees exposed this lie and voiced their outrage, Mr. Mulgrew reversed course and opposed Medicare Advantage. We’re thankful that he did – we now consider him an important ally in the fight against Medicare Advantage. The Medicare Advantage saga showed that, with enough outrage from the retiree community, Mr. Mulgrew can be compelled to do the right thing.

Mr. Mulgrew once again needs to be compelled to do the right thing. There is a bill pending in the City Council (Intro 1096) that would prohibit the City from diminishing the healthcare benefits of Medicare-eligible (i.e., elderly or disabled) retirees, who never bargained for or consented to the diminishment of their healthcare in retirement. Mr. Mulgrew is opposed to this bill, which, again, would simply protect retiree healthcare. The reason is simple: he wants the ability to sell out current retirees in order to negotiate raises and other benefits for his active worker members. The bill would prevent him from doing that. To be clear, the bill would allow him and other active workers to bargain away their own retirement benefits. It would just prevent him from bargaining away the benefits of current retirees, who have no seat at the bargaining table.

In short, Mr. Mulgrew opposes Intro 1096 because it would deny him the ability to sell out helpless, unrepresented retirees in order to fund benefits for his constituents (active union workers). But he can’t openly admit that. So, like he did with Medicare Advantage, he has to falsely assure retirees that he is looking out for their best interests. He claims that Intro 1096 would set a “bad precedent” by making retiree healthcare a subject of legislation. According to him, this could embolden the City to pass legislation taking away union members’ bargained-for employment benefits. This argument makes no sense for multiple reasons.

First, we already have a law that protects retiree healthcare: New York City Administrative Code § 12-126. It was passed in 1967 and provides sweeping protections for retirees, including the right to free health insurance coverage, a HIP-HMO plan, and reimbursement for Medicare Part B premiums. Intro 1096 would merely extend the healthcare rights long granted by § 12-126. Contrary to Mr. Mulgrew’s fearmongering, § 12-126 has never emboldened the City to pass legislation taking away union members’ bargained-for employment benefits.

Second, the reason the City has not passed, and cannot pass, legislation taking away union members’ employment benefits is that it would violate the Taylor Law. The Taylor Law is a state statute that guarantees unions the right to collectively bargain for their benefits. The City could never pass legislation that violated the Taylor Law. Mr. Mulgrew’s “boogeyman” legislation—a hypothetical City Council bill denying union members employment benefits—would blatantly violate the Taylor Law. Intro 1096 would not. Intro 1096 explicitly allows unions to negotiate for any retiree healthcare benefits they wish for themselves (even if those benefits are better or worse than the benefits prescribed by the bill). Moreover, Intro 1096 is about retirees, who are not covered by the Taylor Law because they are no longer in a collective bargaining unit.

When Mr. Mulgrew tries to tell you that opposing Intro 1096 is in retirees’ best interests, don’t let him fool you. Hold his feet to the fire like you did with Medicare Advantage. If you do, we believe that he will do the right thing. And when he does, we will once again embrace him as an ally.

    1.  The “fight” to get paraprofessionals the “respect check”

    2.  “Fighting” to “Fix” Tier 6  

Depending on how locked in you are to our union, you may know that one or both of these things are happening. And then there are some of you who may not realize that any of these things are happening. That’s okay. The urgency you are being made to feel about these items is by design. It’s performative. The constant “fighting” for these issues, that feel so big and out of our control in our everyday lives, makes us feel powerless and tired, so that even if we want to participate, it’s a struggle to know where to begin. Not to mention the fact that before we know it, the tone has shifted and the issue no longer seems that urgent.

Let’s start with the “Para Respect Check.” And let’s rewind. When this was introduced last year, during the election for the officers of this union, you may have thought it seemed super shady. You were not alone! EVERY Paraprofessional in NYC was told they would get $10,000 every single year for the rest of their careers, starting in June of 2025. This would be provided by the City Council who would pass a law to make it happen. What? How would that be possible and who would even agree to that? 

Don’t misunderstand. 

We all know paraprofessionals need to earn a living wage, but we also know we are part of a larger workforce of other low-wage union workers in our school communities. How could the City Council give such a wage increase to only one title? And why did this become an urgent issue for Mulgrew at this time, RIGHT NOW? Especially in light of the fact that Mulgrew had an opportunity to negotiate para pay raises during the last contract negotiation, but he explicitly told the negotiating committee members they could not discuss wages. The Chapter Leader for the paraprofessionals even argued in late 2024 that paras didn’t really need a raise. What woke up the leadership? An election year where there were serious threats to their power?    

What were we told? Mulgrew contended that this bill would solve all the years of the DOE getting away with not having to adhere to special education compliance because this bill would solve the lack of paraprofessionals coming into and staying in the profession. We were never supposed to think this was so obviously close to Mulgrew’s upcoming election. If a person dared to question the timing of this bill, you would be called out in your own union hall as people who want to “do this union harm”, did not want paras to be paid more, along with all of the nonsense that Mulgrew says to the very union members who pay dues to be represented with principles and competence. So, Mulgrew tried to silence those who questioned why there are so many substitute paraprofessionals that this UFT leadership can never get the DOE to hire full-time at schools every single year. 

We are never supposed to think about solving the root of the problem. What we are told is that what Mulgrew decides and when he decides it is above questioning or analysis and should be supported because he says so.

Tier Six is another example. This change to our pension structure happened in 2012. At that time, we were told by Mulgrew and his mouthpieces, that there was nothing that could be done to prevent Tier VI. There was an economic downturn and if we defended our pension structure and prevented a new tier from being created, we stood to lose our defined pension benefits all together. This is one of Mulgrew’s favorite tactics–the scare tactic.

So, Tier VI was created and this union said and did nothing about Tier VI until when? 2024. The year before the election for union officer positions. Why in 2024? Young people aren’t connecting to the union. Let’s pick an issue they care about. Not because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s the opportunistic thing to do. What does the UFT actually do? Tag along the state union’s “pep” rally. Then the day after, announce that Tier VI changes are coming. That is what today’s town hall is supposed to be about. 

Listen carefully to not only what is being said but how it’s being framed. Mulgrew will talk about what people want. But what are people actually getting? What does it have in common with the “Para Respect Check”? It’s all performative and completely divorced from the real power of the membership. Instead Mulgrew uses the needs and wants of the membership to create fake outrage, insincere urgency, and then a happy ending. 

BUT, we don’t have any substantive changes to either paraprofessional pay or Tier VI. Actions speak louder than words and we are tired of being wound up and mobilized, only to find out we can’t quite cross the finish line or what we end up with is not at all what has been described to us as the probable outcome. To some, this may sound like naysaying or bitterness, but what evidence do we have that it’s not true? There is no para respect check. The original bill has been changed to something very different. Mulgrew even referred to it as a “program” at the Delegate Assembly yesterday. Tier VI hasn’t substantively changed. The contract campaign has not started. We still have disrespectful working conditions. We can’t even be treated with respect when we try to go to work after a historic blizzard. That is still an outstanding issue too. As is OT/PT pay, curriculum, student discipline, and general respect for all professionals in the school system.

For those of us who have some time in this system, we often look back to how we felt when we started in our profession and joined this union. There were feelings of pride because this was a respected career, we belonged to a powerful and popular union, and we had a pension. Now we are seeing our union’s reputation and relationships being ruined in this city because of one man’s ego and love of power. Mulgrew doesn’t believe in term limits, building capacity, and passing a torch. We have spent more time defending this union at our dinner tables than feeling that sense of pride we all once had. If you have family members that are police officers, firefighters, sanitation workers, etc. you know this to be true. Many if not most of us who have whole families in the municipal labor workforce will find a common theme at our dinner tables. “Mulgrew screwed us.” He plays on words by saying in one instance that MLC negotiates healthcare and in the next instant proposed Mulgrewcare (aka Medicare Advantage) and assured us this was going through the MLC because we hold the most votes of the MLC. Now he takes no credit for the complete screw up that was, and is now pivoting all of our thinking to these newest (but not new) urgent items. Mulgrew will continue to talk in circles until you are too exhausted to participate.  

This is a call to action to listen to what this man says, ask questions, and don’t doubt the voice you hear saying to yourself that this just doesn’t sound right. You are not alone. We are all in this together and we need to continue to push, no matter the cost, for the union we all deserve.

If you are able, help David with nomination petitions so he can get on the ballot for the TRS Trustee election. Thank you!

Registration link for March 12 Pension Workshop:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/z2iqRxqhS6yPMMapp1zxCA#/registration

Registration link for March 18 TDA Workshop:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/yRJ7yRJBQiGgPKEXa7NxDQ#/registration

Registration link for March 24 Financial Wellness Workshop:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/pOMoBqMOTvGKxMwSsSlWZg#/registration

Petition link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1osuZHljew7Gr8S9nWdaYBc_xR2hrlFhg/view

Dear UFT Members,

Thanks so much for the fantastic turnout at our ABC Mass Meeting last week. Nearly 400 attended, and over 700 registered! As we heard from TRS Trustee candidate David Kazansky and running mate Ben Morgenroth, the critical importance of an independent fiduciary voice on the TRS Board cannot be overstated. Our pensions depend on it. The first step towards making it happen is to collect petition signatures to put David Kazansky on the ballot. Our goal is 3,000 signatures, and we have three weeks to do it! Our deadline is March 30.

CLICK HERE to download the nominating petition for David Kazansky. Here is the URL to share with everyone you know at other schools: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1osuZHljew7Gr8S9nWdaYBc_xR2hrlFhg/view

Whether you can collect 5, 10 or 100 signatures, we need your help!

Any in-service contributor to TRS can sign the petition. This includes teachers, paraprofessionals, related service providers, secretaries, psychologists, nurses and administrators (yes, principals and assistant principals can sign). Under the obtuse rules for the TRS Trustee election, a person can sign only one nominating petition. Signing a petition for more than one candidate will result in both signatures being canceled and uncounted. So make sure you are only signing for David Kazansky.
One and done!

CLICK HERE to download the nominating petition for David Kazansky. Here is the URL to share with everyone you know at other schools: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1osuZHljew7Gr8S9nWdaYBc_xR2hrlFhg/view

Included with the blank petition are detailed instructions that include a mailing address to send your collected signatures. If it is easier for you to have us pick up signed petitions from you in-person, or if you have any questions or ideas for helping, please email us at info@uftmembers.org. You can also email the David Kazansky campaign team directly at info@wetrustdavid.org.

The TRS Trustee campaign of David Kazansky and Ben Morgenroth is about accountability, transparency, and protecting our pensions. TRS is our money. UFT members need real representation that is transparent and accountable to all UFT members. We have until March 30 to collect 3,000 signatures.

Let’s get this done!

HAPPENING TODAY! On Tuesday, March 3, A Better Contract (ABC-UFT) is hosting a Mass Meeting with TRS Trustee candidate David Kazansky and Ben Morgenroth. At the meeting, we will learn about the role of TRS trustees, what they do, and why their work is so critically important to our retirement. TDA, pensions and Roth options will be explained clearly, along with insider strategies to maximize our benefits. We will close out the meeting with a live Q&A, where you can ask your questions directly to the experts.

Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PVRbj7nxTbqK0vxAKJmVSQ#/registration

⸻

Meet the Experts

David Kazansky – Former TRS teacher‑trustee and longtime NYC educator, David knows the inner workings of the pension system and fights to ensure TRS decisions are made that puts educators first. He has decades of experience advocating for educators’ benefits and is recognized for his deep knowledge of pension policies, TRS governance, and retirement planning strategies. David faithfully served as a teacher trustee on the NYC TRS board from 2015 to 2024. He is running as an independent candidate for re-election this year. CLICK HERE for David’s campaign website.

Ben Morgenroth – AP teacher and adjunct lecturer with over a decade in NYC classrooms, Ben combines classroom experience and financial expertise to help members understand pensions, TDA, and Roth options. Prior to becoming an educator, Ben worked in the private sector as a quantitative analyst evaluating investment risk and performance. Ben is running with David Kazansky in this year’s teacher trustee election.

⸻

Hosted by: A Better Contract (ABC-UFT)

Date & Time: Tuesday, March 3rd, 7:00 PM

Location: Zoom

Who Should Attend: In-service UFT members (retirees welcome to attend and observe, but this meeting will focus on in-service members and the TRS election)

Seats are limited. REGISTER NOW and take control of your retirement!

⸻

🔥 STAY CONNECTED WITH DAVID KAZANSKY

Follow David Kazansky for updates and analysis. He’s running for NYC TRS trustee in the upcoming spring election.

Follow at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586074705494

Instagram: http://instagram.com/davidkaznyc

🌐

http://wetrustdavid.org

Next Tuesday, March 3, A Better Contract (ABC-UFT) is hosting a Mass Meeting with TRS Trustee candidate David Kazansky and Ben Morgenroth. At the meeting, we will learn about the role of TRS trustees, what they do, and why their work is so critically important to our retirement. TDA, pensions and Roth options will be explained clearly, along with insider strategies to maximize our benefits. We will close out the meeting with a live Q&A, where you can ask your questions directly to the experts.

Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PVRbj7nxTbqK0vxAKJmVSQ#/registration

⸻

Meet the Experts

David Kazansky – Former TRS teacher‑trustee and longtime NYC educator, David knows the inner workings of the pension system and fights to ensure TRS decisions are made that puts educators first. He has decades of experience advocating for educators’ benefits and is recognized for his deep knowledge of pension policies, TRS governance, and retirement planning strategies. David faithfully served as a teacher trustee on the NYC TRS board from 2015 to 2024. He is running as an independent candidate for re-election this year. CLICK HERE for David’s campaign website.

Ben Morgenroth – AP teacher and adjunct lecturer with over a decade in NYC classrooms, Ben combines classroom experience and financial expertise to help members understand pensions, TDA, and Roth options. Prior to becoming an educator, Ben worked in the private sector as a quantitative analyst evaluating investment risk and performance. Ben is running with David Kazansky in this year’s teacher trustee election.

⸻

Hosted by: A Better Contract (ABC-UFT)

Date & Time: Tuesday, March 3rd, 7:00 PM

Location: Zoom

Who Should Attend: In-service UFT members (retirees welcome to attend and observe, but this meeting will focus on in-service members and the TRS election)

Seats are limited. REGISTER NOW and take control of your retirement!

⸻

🔥 STAY CONNECTED WITH DAVID KAZANSKY

Follow David Kazansky for updates and analysis. He’s running for NYC TRS trustee in the upcoming spring election.

Follow at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586074705494

Instagram: http://instagram.com/davidkaznyc

🌐 http://wetrustdavid.org

📢 JOIN TODAY’S LIVE CALL WITH TRS TRUSTEE CANDIDATE DAVID KAZANSKY

Financial Foundation$

Join David Kazansky for a financial wellness workshop designed to help you take a clear, honest look at your money and build a stronger financial future.

This session will cover:

• Goal Setting

• Budgeting

• Spending Habits

• Saving Strategies

• Debt Management

• Retirement Planning

Clear information. Practical explanations. No spin.

📅 Wednesday, February 25

🕒 5PM

🔗 Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/YCQjUHyrT4W2qsgGCX_-hg#/registration

Please take some time Wednesday afternoon to join the meeting and learn some important information to help you understand where you stand financially, what matters most, and practical steps you can take right away for a brighter financial future. Please share the registration link with others!

🔥 STAY CONNECTED WITH DAVID KAZANSKY

Follow David Kazansky for updates and analysis. He’s running for NYC TRS trustee in the upcoming spring election.

Follow at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586074705494

Instagram: http://instagram.com/davidkaznyc

🌐 http://wetrustdavid.org

CLICK HERE to register for today’s meeting.

Several years ago a resolution was brought to the floor of the Delegate Assembly proposing the UFT lobby state legislators to amend the Taylor Law — specifically, removing the no strike pledge while preserving the parts of the law that protect our pensions. It was pointed out that there was precedent for Taylor being amended, specifically the Triborough Amendment.

Unity Caucus, which controls the Delegate Assembly along with every other instrument in the UFT apparatus, voted the resolution down. If you’re wondering why, ask yourself what’s easier for Mulgrew and the rest of the Unity-controlled UFT leadership: organizing a 200,000 member-strong strike? Or shrugging and saying “nothing we can do, Taylor Law makes striking illegal.” There’s your answer.

Here’s the harsh truth: if you’re not happy with the way the current UFT leadership represents you, you need to get off your ass and vote in the next union election, and get others to do so as well. If 170,000+ people can sign a Change.org petition calling for remote instruction in less than 24 hours, it’s not hard to believe more than just 29% of the members (approximately 58,000 people) can be bothered over the course of a month to take less than five minutes to mail in a ballot. It’s not hard to believe they can then summon the effort to speak with the colleagues they see every day and encourage them to vote too.

Otherwise, respectfully, folks should really stop complaining and just admit that they’re actually okay with the status quo. Admit they’re okay with a union that limits comments on social media posts because the leadership has nothing but contempt for the members (who pay their overinflated salaries) and what we have to say. Admit that they’re okay with endlessly screaming into the void of a Facebook group with the same legitimate complaints again and again and again instead of finally doing something about it.

Please follow ABC on social media. Please reach out to us and get involved if you would like to see an alternative to the current Unity-controlled UFT leadership that has dominated our union for the last 65+ years. The next union-wide election is in 2028, but we have plenty of initiatives we’re working on between now and then that you can help with, many from the comfort of your couch if you have a smartphone or other Internet-enabled device. Like a well-planned, inclusive lesson, there are entry points for all levels of activism in ABC.

If your response to that bare minimum ask is “I don’t have time for that,” ask yourself if you “have time” to dig your car out and schlep to work for 15% student attendance and zero meaningful instruction taking place every time we get hit with a foot or more of snow. Ask yourself if you “have time” for that second job you have to work because our union leaders can’t negotiate raises that even keep up with the cost of living, much less outpace it. Ask yourself if you “have time” when you continue to work a 155 minute longer school week (over 90 hours per year!) for a raise we got over twenty years ago.

Friends, at some point we need to recognize that we “don’t have time” because of Unity’s leadership, not in spite of it. Unity’s absolute control of the UFT and our working more for less aren’t unrelated data points — they have a direct causal relationship. And so we ask if you can make the relatively minimal investment over the next two years of helping ABC end Unity’s reign of errors for good and give yourself and the other 200,000 people represented by this union a decent shot at better pay, more respect for your time — in short, a better, healthier work-life balance.

We’ll close with one final point: pulling your dues will not help you or fix this crisis — in fact, it exacerbates it. We know from last year’s election that Unity maintains control of the UFT because they can reliably turn out 30,000 votes — about 15% of the overall membership. About 13% voted for the opposition. A whopping 71% or so remain totally disengaged. Fed up UFT members pulling their dues actually increases Unity’s share of the vote and makes dislodging them even more difficult. What we need right now is for people to lean in, not withdraw. Look at it this way — if just the 42,000 members of the big DOE Facebook group voted for ABC, Unity would lose in a nearly twenty point landslide. Now imagine if half of all UFT members — 100,000 people — bothered to vote. Unity would get blown out by forty points.

None of this is beyond the realm of possibility. All it requires is a rejection of apathy, a temporary investment of minimal effort, and a desire for a better life for us and our families. Seven decades of uninterrupted, absolute rule isn’t union democracy. It’s a dictatorship. It’s a union president making nearly half a million dollars per year off our dues while telling us to be thankful for anemic 3% raises. Ignore Unity’s fear mongering and obfuscation and join us in working for a better future we can all support.

Get clear, practical answers on your retirement benefits from experts who know the system inside and out. Stop guessing and start planning smarter for your future.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

⸻

Why Attend

• Understand TRS trustees: What they do and why it matters to you.

• TDA, pensions & Roth options explained clearly.

• Insider strategies to maximize your benefits.

• Live Q&A: Ask your questions directly to the experts.

⸻

Meet the Experts

David Kazansky – Former TRS teacher‑trustee and longtime NYC educator, David knows the inner workings of the pension system and fights to ensure TRS decisions are made that puts educators first. He has decades of experience advocating for educators’ benefits and is recognized for his deep knowledge of pension policies, TRS governance, and retirement planning strategies. David faithfully served as a teacher trustee on the NYC TRS board from 2015 to 2024. He is running as an independent candidate for re-election this year. CLICK HERE for David’s campaign website.

Ben Morgenroth – AP teacher and adjunct lecturer with over a decade in NYC classrooms, Ben combines classroom experience and financial expertise to help members understand pensions, TDA, and Roth options. Prior to becoming an educator, Ben worked in the private sector as a quantitative analyst evaluating investment risk and performance. Ben is running with David Kazansky in this year’s teacher trustee election.

⸻

Hosted by: A Better Contract (ABC-UFT)

Date & Time: March 3rd, 7:00 PM

Location: Zoom

Who Should Attend: In-service UFT members (retirees welcome to attend and observe, but this meeting will focus on in-service members and the TRS election)

Seats are limited. REGISTER NOW and take control of your retirement!

A Better Contract (ABC), the independent, member-driven movement that shocked the UFT establishment by winning 34% of the vote in the citywide union election—announced today its unanimous endorsement of David Kazansky and alternate Ben Morgenroth for NYC TRS Teacher Trustee, calling the race “a critical test of whether NYC educators will finally take back control of their retirement security.”

ABC-UFT grew out of educators demanding a union that fights harder for real raises, safer and more respectful working conditions, transparency, and a meaningful voice in the decisions that shape their careers and retirement. Leaders say the TRS election is a natural next step in that fight.

Leah Lin, an 11-year elementary school teacher and Chapter Leader at PS85Q, District 30, who ran as an officer said:

“Educators are tired of being told to trust the process while major decisions about their pay, working lives, and pensions happen behind closed doors. David Kazansky and Ben Morgenroth have the independence, financial expertise, and backbone to protect our retirement security and put members first.”

The stakes could not be higher. As economic uncertainty grows and educators look for leadership willing to challenge insider control, shine a light on risky investments and hidden fees, and ensure the pension system works for the people who fund it.

ABC emphasized that Kazansky is running as an independent candidate, and called on all caucuses, locals, and member organizations connected to UFT, CSA, and PSC-CUNY to unite behind his candidacy.

To learn more, visit: http://wetrustdavid.org

We Trust David website

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Download Nominating Petitions

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We want to say something plainly:

New York City nurses are out on strike right now. This is historic.

As of early February, nearly 15,000 nurses represented by NYSNA are on strike at major private hospital systems across the city. They are striking at hospitals New Yorkers know well:

Mount Sinai Hospital

Mount Sinai Morningside

Mount Sinai West

Montefiore in the Bronx

NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia

This isn’t isolated. This is citywide.

This strike is now in its fourth week.

That alone should stop us all in our tracks.

These are the people who take care of us when we’re at our most vulnerable. The people who held hospitals together through COVID, through impossible staffing, through violence and burnout and exhaustion.

And they are saying: Enough.

They are fighting for safe staffing. For decent benefits. For protection from workplace violence.

For the ability to do their jobs without being destroyed by them.

And get this: Montefiore cut off nurses’ health benefits because they’re striking.

Just think about that.

A hospital, a place that is literally supposed to care for people, is using healthcare as a weapon against the workers who provide it. That’s disgusting and speaks to the values of those who run these hospitals. These are not people who care about their employees, let alone their patients.

We Have to Ask: Where Is Our Union?

We are UFT members. Many of us have spent our lives in schools, in public service, in union work. So we’re saying this as people who believe in unions deeply:

The silence from UFT leadership right now is hard to understand.

Because this is what solidarity is supposed to be for. If 15,000 nurses can put everything on the line for safe patient care, the least the rest of us can do is speak up.

Educators and nurses are in the same struggle. We know what it feels like to be overworked, understaffed, disrespected, told to “do more with less,” and expected to sacrifice endlessly because we care. That care gets exploited. And nurses are drawing a line. We are proud of and inspired by them.

So Here’s What We’re Asking:

If you can give something — even a small amount — please consider contributing to the NYSNA Strike Fund. Not as charity. As solidarity. As one working person helping another hold the line. Even $10 or $25 matters.

Here’s the link to donate:

https://nysna.tfaforms.net/5110966

We don’t want to live in a city where nurses have to strike to keep patients safe. And we don’t want to be part of a labor movement that stays quiet when workers are being punished for standing up.

The nurses are fighting. We should all be standing with them.

We urge you to read Marianne Pizzitola’s Daily News op-ed below.

Mamdani must shield city retirees from Medicare scam

By MARIANNE PIZZITOLA

PUBLISHED: January 31, 2026 at 5:00 AM EST

Zohran Mamdani campaigned on the idea that the government should make life better and more affordable for the working class and protect them from corporate greed and corruption. His critics have attacked his platform as delusional and dangerous.

Mayor Mamdani can prove his critics wrong, and demonstrate his commitment to his principles, by making traditional Medicare a central pillar of his health policy.

Medicare is a public health insurance program for senior citizens. Under traditional Medicare, the federal government pays doctors directly for the services they render. Seniors can go to virtually any doctor (since nearly all doctors accept traditional Medicare) and receive whatever care their doctor orders (since there is no insurance company denying coverage).

When combined with a Medicare supplemental plan, which the city has always provided to Medicare-eligible retired municipal workers, costs are minimal. In short, traditional Medicare is effective, life-saving, and affordable.

Medicare Advantage (“MA”) — a private, for-profit alternative to traditional Medicare — is none of those things.

Under MA, money flows through insurance companies. The federal government pays insurers to cover seniors who enroll in their MA plans, with the payment amount varying based on the seniors’ health (as reported by the insurers). The insurers profit by pocketing whatever they don’t spend. The original idea behind MA was to let market forces drive down the cost of health care and improve efficiency. It has been a spectacular failure.

As countless empirical studies have confirmed, MA plans cost taxpayers far more than traditional Medicare despite spending far less on, and delivering worse outcomes for, patients. Why is that? Corporate greed and corruption.

MA insurers (i) fraudulently overbill the government by exaggerating patients’ medical problems and (ii) improperly deny coverage for care these elderly, infirm individuals desperately need. Such greed and corruption have resulted in historic profits for MA plans (indeed, MA plans are the most profitable insurance product). They have also resulted in criminal charges and civil fraud lawsuits against most of the leading MA insurance companies.

Making matters worse, a large percentage of medical providers refuse to accept MA plans. According to an October 2024 U.S. Senate report, “61% of health systems are either considering ceasing to accept all Medicare Advantage patients within the next two years, or will definitely do so.” Doctors despise MA plans because the insurers make it nearly impossible for them to do their jobs. The insurers drown them in prior authorization paperwork, refuse to cover their patients’ care, and deny and delay payment.

Because MA plans impede access to doctors and life-saving treatment, patients are often forced to choose between paying out-of-pocket and forgoing medical care. In short, MA plans are a nightmare for seniors when they become sick, particularly if they are low-income.

Disgraced former Mayor Eric Adams opposed MA when he ran for office in 2021. He said it would “devastate” and “traumatize our retirees.” However, after becoming mayor, he quickly reversed course and sought to force retired city workers into an MA plan. He claimed it would help balance the city’s budget. The New York City Independent Budget Office found this to be false.

The truth was that the MA plan would have funneled money from low-income seniors to a discretionary fund controlled by the mayor and union leaders. Adams also claimed that an MA plan could be just as good as traditional Medicare. Retirees exposed the truth in litigation, leading the courts to find that MA would irreparably harm seniors. Eventually, Adams gave up.

During last year’s campaign, Mamdani quietly posted a statement on his website pledging to “reject Medicare Advantage.” However, since taking office, he has not publicly addressed the topic. That is a missed opportunity. Mamdani should proudly reaffirm his commitment to traditional Medicare. This health care program is one of the most compelling examples of the government making life better and more affordable for the working class and protecting them from corporate greed and corruption.

MA enriches insurance companies at the expense of vulnerable senior citizens. No city leader, especially none with Mamdani’s political beliefs, should ever force retirees into it.

Pizzitola is president of the New York City Organization of Public Service Retirees, representing 300,000 retired members of the city’s municipal work force who are Medicare retirees.

Educators have always stood at the heart of movements for justice. When our communities are under attack, when our students’ families are living in fear, and when peaceful protesters and civilians are killed in broad daylight, silence is not an option. The nationwide General Strike on January 30, 2026 is a call to collective action in response to the ongoing DHS and ICE raids terrorizing immigrant families and communities, as well as the killings of Alex Pretti, Renee Good, Silverio Villegas González, and Keith Porter Jr.

Many UFT members are not able to walk off the job; and for the safety of many of our students, we shouldn’t. However, a general strike is not only about leaving the workplace. It’s about coordinated disruption, solidarity, and refusing to participate in business as usual while injustice continues.

Below is a practical guide for educators who can’t walk out but want to support:

1. Financial and Consumer Actions: Use Your Spending Power Strategically

Even if you’re in the classroom today, your economic choices still matter.

Avoid Unnecessary Spending

The General Strike seeks to disrupt normal economic activity.

• Skip non-essential purchases for today.

• If you must buy something, choose local small businesses rather than large corporations.

Support Strike Funds and Mutual Aid

Many workers participating in the strike will lose income.

• Contribute to strike funds supporting affected workers. Many small and local businesses participating in the strike have set up donations for their employees. Find your favorites and support them.

• Donate to mutual aid groups providing food, transportation, or emergency support to immigrant families. mutualaid.nyc and wearenewyorkvalues.org are great resources for connecting with different groups.

Pause or Cancel Subscriptions

If you subscribe to companies that have taken anti-worker or anti-immigrant positions, consider pausing those services for the day, or canceling those subscriptions permanently. Amazon, we’re looking at you.

Use Cash Instead of Cards

Cash transactions reduce the data footprint that corporations rely on to measure consumer activity, as well as reducing revenue for large financial institutions generated by credit card purchases. Even if just for today, use cash instead.

2. Digital and Political Advocacy: Take Action From Your Phone or Laptop

If you can’t be physically present, your voice still carries weight.

Contact Elected Officials

• Call your congressional representatives and demand an end to funding for DHS and ICE raids.

• Use tools like 5Calls.org or Resistbot to streamline the process. Better yet, make direct calls to your elected officials. You can find their contact info here: NYC.gov

Write Letters to Local Newspapers and News Websites

Educators’ voices carry credibility. A short letter explaining why you support the strike can reach thousands.

Amplify the Message on Social Media

• Change your profile picture or banner in solidarity.

• Share educational posts explaining the purpose of the strike.

• Sign and circulate petitions.

• Engage in comment sections to counter misinformation.

Your digital presence can help shift public understanding and build momentum.

3. Logistical and Community Support: Strengthen the Movement Locally

Even small acts of solidarity make a difference.

Help Others Participate

• Offer rides to picket lines or protest sites.

• Provide childcare for colleagues or community members attending demonstrations.

• Drop off essentials, coffee, hot cocoa, and/or snacks to strikers.

Show Visible Support

• Place signs in your apartment window or inside your classroom.

• Join a picket line, rally or march after school.

Connect with Local Immigrant Defense Groups

Many neighborhoods have rapid-response networks or legal aid organizations. Reach out and ask what they need.

4. What Educators Can Do Inside Their Schools

Talk with Coworkers

Solidarity grows through conversation.

• Discuss the strike’s goals.

• Share resources about the ongoing raids and killings of civilians.

• Encourage colleagues to participate in whatever ways they can.
  

5. Remember Why This Matters

Today’s General Strike is a collective refusal to accept a climate of fear, violence, and dehumanization. As educators, we see firsthand how immigration raids tear apart families, destabilize classrooms, and traumatize children. Standing with our communities on January 30 is an extension of the work we already do every day: protecting our students, defending their dignity, and fighting for a world where they can learn and live without fear.

Whether you can walk out or not, you can participate.

Whether you can attend a protest for hours or take five minutes at lunch or after school to make a phone call, you can contribute.

YOUR SOLIDARITY MATTERS.

UFT members have always been part of the broader struggle for justice. Today is another moment to show that when our communities are under attack, UFT members show up, TOGETHER.

Unity Caucus has a long history of sending these letters to members who criticize Unity’s abject failure to deliver raises that beat the cost of living, protect our healthcare, and fight back against toxic administrators. These letters invariably warn of legal action if the criticism continues.

Well guess what? We’re calling Unity’s bluff.

ABC has retained legal counsel — paid for out of our own pockets — and sent the UFT’s attorney the letter pictured below. We DARE Mulgrew and Unity to file suit against ABC. We have already beat them in arbitration and are more than happy to replicate that outcome in court.

Mulgrew and Unity have bullied the UFT membership for far too long. This is only the first step in putting a stop to that behavior for good.

See below for the full letter from ABC’s lawyer:

It’s one of the dirty secrets of retiring as a UFT member: Our union charges Medicare-eligible UFT Retirees a monthly premium to keep their prescription drug coverage. The cost is up to $180 per month for individual coverage, and up to $340 per month for family coverage. The amount has increased by 50% in the last two years, and there is no cap to prevent the cost from rising in the future.

Meanwhile, most NYC municipal unions, like DC37, PSC, police, and firefighters, provide premium-free prescription insurance to all members — both in-service and retirees.

Enough is enough! CLICK HERE to sign the petition.

We need to send a clear message to UFT President Michael Mulgrew and the leadership of our union: STOP CHARGING RETIREES!

For further reading:

stopchargingretirees.org

The Wire: It’s Time to Stop Charging UFT Retirees

Ed Notes Online: Unity Caucus Favors Co-Pays: NYC Educators Penalized for Retiring

Union Matters: Should NYC Educators Be Penalized for Retiring?

During our winter break, the NYC Comptroller released a 48-page audit about the Health Stabilization Fund. Most working people do not have the time or energy to read something that long, so A Better Contract (ABC-UFT) created a breakdown of what the audit found in plain language.

For about 40 years, city workers and retirees were told there was a big piggy bank just for healthcare. When insurance costs went up, this piggy bank was supposed to help, so that workers and retirees would not have to pay healthcare premiums.

The NYC Comptroller’s audit shows that the piggy bank is now empty and more than $3 billion in debt.

Oversight of this fund was handled by the City and union leadership, with the largest role played by the biggest unions– especially the UFT and DC 37, which had the most influence over decisions about how the money was used.

Here are the four main things the audit says went wrong:

1. The money was used for things it was never meant for. The piggy bank was supposed to be only for healthcare costs. Instead, money was used for other expenses. Once you use a piggy bank for other things, it stops being protected.

2. More money was taken out of the piggy bank than put in. Year after year, the fund paid out more than it received. You can do that for a short time, but eventually the piggy bank runs out.

3. Real money was replaced with empty promises. Instead of putting actual cash back into the fund, the City was allowed to promise to pay later. A promise is not the same as money you can actually use.

4. Union members were not clearly told what was happening. The people who rely on this piggy bank were never given a simple, honest explanation that the piggy bank was being drained. When people are not told the truth, they cannot ask questions or stop bad decisions.

That is how a fund that held billions ended up broken. The audit makes clear this was not caused by everyday union members or every union. It was the result of decisions made by a small group of leaders who oversaw the fund and failed to protect it.

The only way to prevent another collapse is for UFT members to organize, stay informed, insist on accountability and spread the word to all UFT members. The piggy bank is now broken beyond repair, but our UFT doesn’t have to be.

For more detailed information on the destruction of the NYC Health Stabilization Fund:

The Wire: The Audit the MLC Doesn’t Want You to See

The Wire: The Healthcare Fund They Quietly Decided to Kill

Work Bites: Whoever’s Responsible for Those MLC Leaks Deserves a Medal

NYC Comptroller: Audit of the Financial and Operating Practices of the Joint Health Insurance Stabilization Fund

The City: Explosive Audit Urges Dissolving Insolvent City Employee Health Fund

Dear UFT Members,

As we head into the holiday season, we’re taking a much-needed break; and we truly hope you are too. We will return in January 2026, rested, recharged, and ready for the work ahead.

Before we officially close out 2025, we want to express our deepest gratitude to every member who supported, uplifted, and participated in A Better Contract (ABC-UFT). The progress we have made together this year, what we’ve built, pushed for, organized, and stood firm on has been nothing short of extraordinary. This movement exists because of you. Your passion, your willingness to speak truth to power, and your unwavering belief that our union can and must be better have fueled everything we’ve accomplished.

We are proud to stand beside you, and we are honored to be part of this collective effort to create a more transparent, democratic, and member-driven UFT. The work is not easy, but it is meaningful and it is working.

As we look ahead to 2026, we are energized by the momentum we’ve built and excited for everything we will continue to achieve together. Our fight for fairness, equity, accountability, and member voice is far from over; and with your continued engagement, we know even greater progress is possible.

Wishing each and every one of you a healthy, joyful New Year and the happiest of holidays. May this season bring rest, renewal, and the strength to continue the powerful work ahead.

In solidarity,

A Better Contract (ABC-UFT)