Honor Teachers' Spring Conference

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.