We've included your voice in the ABC platform -- Help us finalize it!
A Better Contract is a non-partisan grassroots movement of UFTers who are organizing for the 2025 UFT elections and fighting for improvements to their pay, healthcare, retirement and much more.
Good afternoon, everyone!
Back in August we put out a survey asking UFT members to share their thoughts on the DOE and the union — what’s working, what isn’t, and everything in between.
We asked, and you answered! We received over 1,200 survey responses that overwhelmingly identified common issues our membership is largely in agreement on.
Based directly on that member feedback, we’re excited to share our slate’s tentative platform with you. It focuses on bread and butter issues that the survey data indicates have broad support from UFT members, and deliberately stays away from issues that are divisive and/or partisan.
Since this platform started with a focus on member feedback, we would like to finalize it based on member feedback.
After reading the platform below, please fill out this Google Form no later than Tuesday, December 10th to share your thoughts and any improvements you’d like to see: tinyurl.com/platformvoice
ABC - A Better Contract’s Tentative Platform
In a rush? Here’s the short version.
We will work to:
• Get you the better pay that you deserve that keeps up with the cost of living; and protect your healthcare and retirement
• Demonstrably improve your working conditions and giving you more freedom as a professional
• Build a stronger, more responsive union that answers to you
• Defend public education from any and all attempts at privatization and reduced funding
If any of this interests you, see the full tentative platform below. Please chime in!
We believe that we need transformative improvements to our contract with the DOE and the City of New York, and the social contract between us and our union leadership.
The Labor Contract with the DOE
We commit to:
• Leveraging the collective power of the MLC to negotiate raises that outpace cost of living organizing for all titles and paraprofessionals in particular
• Protecting premium-free healthcare, including traditional Medicare, for both current employees and retirees
• Enforcing the contract for all and ensuring our probationary educators are also protected under it
• Fixing Tier 6 as soon as possible, without further delay
• Working to reclaim the 8.25% interest rate for our TDA
• Fixing the broken grievance system and making superintendents accountable for their principals’ actions
• Teacher autonomy and members having real input and voice on curricula
• Lobbying for a pro-union amendment to the Taylor Law that allows us to be fully action-ready, including the option to legally strike, if necessary
• Contract language that gives teeth to state class size legislation
• Fighting to end unilateral mayoral control of our schools
The Social Contract for the UFT
We commit to:
• Boosting UFT Welfare Fund benefits for members on Day 1 — more of the $800 million they’re sitting on will be used to protect members from rising dental costs
• Implementing principles of greater accountability, transparency, member voice, and genuine union democracy — divisions will elect their VPs, CLs will elect their DRs
• The immediate creation of new functional chapters for librarians, per diem titles, central office positions, and other members who are not being adequately represented
• Proportional representation — no more winner-take-all elections or one party rule of the union
• Electronic voting, now — no more anemic election turnout, we will aim to get more than half of UFT members to vote by 2028 (roughly double what the historical turnout has been) by offering multiple voting methods.
• Member voice and referenda — no more decisions on big issues like political endorsements or mandated curricula without genuine member feedback
• Building relationships with other stakeholders — families and students — to oppose top-down DOE policies that harm our school communities
• Aligning our contract expiration dates with UAW and the rest of the labor movement in 2028
Again, your input is available. Be sure to send us your feedback.
Our next steps include: (1) Finalizing the platform with you. (2) We will be sending out invites to the December UFT Members Assembly and other workgroup meetings in the next few days.
In addition, we’re still calling for any and all UFT members — both in-service and retirees — who want to make transformative changes happen in the DOE and UFT.
We have scores already who have joined our working groups and subcommittees to organize for the UFT 2025 election. We want you to join us. Sign up, here.
Also please take a moment to check out our landing page to see how you can get involved:
Stay updated at:
http://abettercontract.org
And follow us at:
In solidarity,
Katie Anskat, Queens Metropolitan HS Delegate
katieharten@gmail.com
Paul Egan, PS/MS 194 Chapter Leader
Egan10980@gmail.com
Chad Hamilton P.S. K231 Chapter Leader
chadhamilton231@gmail.com
Steve Swieciki, Lehman High School Chapter Leader
uft.swieciki@gmail.com
