Delegate Assembly Minutes (5/14/25)

Delegate Assembly - 5/14/25

President’s Report 

Moment of silence for three UFT members who passed away. Cliff Lloyd, Carolyn Kurtz, and Thomas Wright (possible misspellings, connection was wonky). 

Federal Issues

- We now have a national injunction against Trump admin to use DEI policies to determine funding. Will take a while for them to fight against that legally.

- IDEA and Title 1 also. Feel strongly about IDEA. Not as strong about Title 1 because it’s not Civil Rights.

State Issues

- Fiscal budget is basically done. Announced it was done when it wasn’t. Big fight at the end about NYC and its spending on daycare vouchers. Criteria for families to qualify but there are priority families who get it first, then cascades down. NYC used money on non-priority families. 

- Still have $3 billion in migrant money which we’re not spending. Lots of animosity in Albany towards City at this point. Secured $700 million for priority families.

- Good with Foundation Aid and Class Size funding. Class Size law is fully funded. Lots of jobs on Open Market right now. 

City issues

- Cell phone ban: Goes into effect in September. Bell to bell. Child does not have access to their phone. All sorts of different plans out there. Spoke to Chancellor. Will put sample plans out there. Elementary schools - easier to implement. High Schools are where we’re going to have to really be on top of things. Don’t need principals determining the disciplinary code when it comes to cell phones. Not a debate. Must be dealt with at that moment. If they do it again, parent must be involved. If they do it after that, no cell phone allowed at school. There’s going to be friction in high schools and middle schools. By the time we get to February, we’ll be in a better place. Phones cause mental health and disciplinary students. If principal wants students to have access during lunch, Chapter Leaders and Consultation Committee members must remind principals that the law it bell to bell. 

Union issues

- Asian American and Pacific Islander Month, Jewish American Month, Mental Health Awareness, Teacher Nurse and Provider Awareness month.

- SESIS - 3,586 members have filled out SESIS survey. Going to use data to go after the DOE because we have a lot that needs to be fixed in Special Education.

- SBO votes - Make sure done properly, all members clearly understand the options.

- Healthcare Committee: Met on 4/30. Meeting again on 5/21.

- Hospitals charging different prices.

- Respect Check for paraprofessionals - 46 signed on City Council sponsors and the Public Advocate. Republican who won open seat in Staten Island said he’d sign, so we’re going to 48. Now going to Committee. 

- Chapter Leaders and everyone needs to be aware. Spoke to SED. Approximately 1,000 members who have not finished their certification. Starting to call them all. Assuming list will go down when we call, but still will have 500+. They will get a letter in August saying they’re no longer a member of the DOE. If you need to take a test, we’ll get you to sit. Will also offer classes to prepare for that test. If you know a member in your school, please help them get through this. Every year, people ignore it and show up in September. Don’t want that experience for anyone.

- Endorsements: Are the work of the union. We have already started to be at war with our own Federal Government. Have to find out how to protect ourselves. Shouldn’t be blocking endorsements. We go through a big vetting process. Members take time to do this and give us recommendations. Everybody here won’t agree with everyone we endorse. We all have our own politics. But when we’re here, it is the job of the union. Hear that folks are trying to figure out how to stop endorsements. That will hurt our union.

- A lot of teachers using AI. We need to figure out how to make it our teacher assistant. Make it do our paperwork, write lesson plans that work for us. Looking to train over 1,500 people this summer. Admin gets upset when teachers write lesson plans with AI. You’re teaching, programming AI to do what you want to do.

- This Saturday - Spring Conference. Sold out.

- Mayoral Race: This Saturday - Seven mayoral candidates coming to Spring Conference. Coming on stage one at a time, answering questions. Members who will be attending will receive an email at 5 PM today. Want input on what they want asked. Crazy mayor’s race. First and foremost, we want them to know what we do in education. We promised each candidate we wouldn’t publicize them coming into schools to teach for a day. Some of them really got the experience of the DOE and the City at times. Not making an endorsement immediately after Saturday, but they need to all answer direct, tough questions. Wish we had another field running for mayor but we don’t. In our interest to find someone willing to go to war with us. Don’t want to be at war with City and White House, but it’ll be fun. We do not have great track record on mayor. We usually vote for best education person, but that's not what the rest of the city votes on.

- We need to get out the vote for this union. Going to make information available to members about our vetting process. 

- Bloomberg trying to support charter schools.

Staff Director’s Report

- Election season underway. Ballots due by May 28th. Please call GES  877-455-9367 if you have not received ballot.

- Spring Conference sold out this Saturday. 

- May 31st is our 5K run in Coney Island at 3rd Ave at Maimonides Park.

- Albert Shanker Scholarship ceremony - Given to HS seniors. On June 3rd, 4:30 PM in Shanker Hall.

- Featuring Focus takes place on May 30th. Boys Club of NY.

- June 6th - School secretaries soiree. 

- AIDs walk this Sunday at Central Park. 

- Next DA is June 11th. 

- Retiree luncheon Friday, May 23rd.

Question Period

1. Bennett Fischer, RTC: Make sure we have ranked choice voting endorsement system for the union. 

MM: Dealt with political department. Traditionally haven’t used ranked choice. Need to do it with big elections. Small elections not as much.

2. Shawn Caffrey (CL, District 76): A lot of principals in bigger schools don’t want to implement cell phone ban because it falls on them and will be difficult. How do we push for it?

MM: Their union endorsed ban. Not about whether they want to do it. It’s State law. They can be removed for refusing to follow State law. Predatory algorithms causing severe mental health issues. They should want to do this ban, not look at it as a burden.

3. Olivia Swisher (ARISE Presidential Candidate): Thanks for pushing back on DEI. Many of us out on streets mobilizing for Hands Off Our Schools. For members who want to do more, what else can we do besides rallies? 

MM: Not just us. About coordinating people. We’ve been frustrated what many elected officials at national level. But we’re working with different groups. Where do we go now? So many important issues to be dealt with. There is going to be a budget debate this summer that could gut every state’s economy. Medicaid. We must fight back. I have meeting with congressional people. I’ll do the meeting with them to see what their strategy is. Is it to let us get the crap kicked out of us? Elected officials’ job is to stop harm. As we move forward, we will get CAT teams, especially for summer. That’s when they’re going to debate this budget. Having flashbacks to Bloomberg when it was a 4 year war. Not happy with elected officials at this time. Rich people want shenanigans to go on and screw all of us. 

4. Phoebe (Co-CL, P.S. 199): Question about document I received letter saying class sizes will increase.

MM: In process of telling DOE that this cannot be done. Other problems besides that, such as listing programs schools don’t even have. We’ll get this straightened out. Use contract rights to get it stopped. Cannot supersede State law. 

5. Charlene Williams: New teachers asked to use I do, We do, You do. Tantamount do imitation. Why switch from critical thinking to imitation. Seems like a downgrade on rigor.

Mary Vaccaro: They can’t demand you do that. We know this is going on all over. We’ve had conversations with principals and gotten those things changed.

6. Carol Ascencio: Thanks for working for paras and getting us respect check. Is it okay for teacher/para to walk into teacher’s lounge with a student?

MM: Any teacher’s lounge is for professionals in school to have a space without students present. Would recommend having a conversation first expressing your thoughts. After that, bring to Consultation Committee before the principal  and see if you can rectify that yourselves because we are all colleagues. Try not to go to principal.

Resolutions for next month:

Motions directed to the agenda

Steve Swieciki: Point of order. Can chair tell us how agenda was decided upon today?

MM: Executive Board voted on it. 

Swieciki: When?

MM: Monday night. 

Daniel Alicea: There was no meeting on Monday. Email sent to decide the agenda for today. According to Article 5, Section 19, Executive Board can set agenda but must be at a meeting or special meeting. Are emails now considered a special meeting? 

MM: The Exec Board of UFT has done many votes when it comes to union business. Votes sent to all exec board members. All about the work of the union. The work of the union has to be the priority at all times. The union has the right to adopt rules to fulfill its obligation to get the work done. Going to the parliamentarian. Meeting not required to take place in person.

Aqeel Williams: We want to go forward with business. Business continuously disrupted on this floor.

MM: There’s no designation that a special meeting must be in person. Our constitution is 65 years old. We’ve adapted to our technologies. It does not say specifically. We do the work of the union.

Swieciki: Point of information - You mentioned that we’re not governed by parliamentary procedures (Robert’s Rules). Said rules adopted that go outside Robert’s Rules. Where are they stated and when were they adopted?

Leroy Barr: Chairman, please make a ruling. This is dilatory. We need to get to resolutions. 

MM: As Chair, I’m saying this is dilatory, not in interest of this union. Moving forward with the agenda. Back to motion period…

Vinny Corletta: Resolution for next month’s agenda. As former SPOC, it’s important UFT is at the forefront of all technology. Wants SPOC to receive appropriate training and career advancement opportunities. Title: Resolution to Establish a Special Technology Committee. 

Vote to put on next month’s agenda

Yes: 768  No: 90  (online)   Yes: 279  No: 30 (in person) 90%, it passes. On next month’s agenda.

Janella Hinds: Move to extend time period so we can cover resolutions 1-3 in motion period. 

Parliamentarian: Need two-thirds vote. 

Jeff Andrusan: Is this an unlimited amount of time?

MM: It’s to get those resolutions done. Hypothetically, it’s until we get resolutions 1, 2, and 3 done.

Yes: 593  No: 279  (online)   Yes: 203  No: 120 (in person) Does not pass.

AGENDA ITEM #1 - RESOLUTION ON UNION INTERFERENCE: INTERFERENCE IN THE UFT’S ELECTION FROM NON-MEMBERS (INDIVIDUALS AND OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS) 

Whereas the constitution of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) is the guiding document for all activities within our union including, but not limited to, membership, meetings, and our elections; and

Whereas the UFT’s rank and file membership includes NYC DOE Paraprofessionals, School Secretaries, Teachers, School Counselors, Audiologists,  Sign Language Interpreters, Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapists, Social Workers, Education Officers and Analysts, Administrative Education Officers and Analysts,  Hearing Officers, Nurses, Supervisors of Nurses and Supervising Therapists, Lab Specialists and Lab Technicians, Social Workers and Psychologists and Family Childcare Providers, both in service and retirees; and 

Whereas the UFT is focused on advocating for the rights and interests of our members; and 

Whereas the UFT does not and will not interfere with activities, especially the elections, of other unions; and

Whereas we currently have a non-member individual and group interfering with the UFT’s elections; therefore, be it

Resolved that individuals, groups, and organizations that do not have membership in the UFT or are not included under the UFT’s constitution should NOT have a voice in the activities of the UFT; be it further

Resolved that individuals, groups, or organizations that do not have membership in the UFT, should not be allowed to interfere in the UFT’s elections. 

Point of Information: The person who just introduced this resolution told me personally it’s towards Marianne Pizzitola. 

MM: You’re debating reso at this point meaning you’re out of order.

Point of Information (Leah Lynn): Who or what indicates what is outside interference?

MM: I did not make the reso but it’s clear it says outside people trying to interfere inside a UFT election.

Point of Information: We need to pay attention to what’s going on right now. We are concerned with outside influence when dealing with our national elections and foreign influences. Let’s look more locally. This is about our UFT election. I don’t understand why people are upset about that, but I guess a hit dog will holler. We should not let people outside of this union interfere with our election (crowd shouting). Do you want to cede control of our union to those who have never walked in our shoes? Should we cede control to outsiders?

Point of Order (Lois Weiner, Delegate RTC): If this resolution is about our current UFT election, why is this not taken up as a challenge in the Department of Labor regulations?

MM: The people in the union have a right to pass policies for the union. People want to put us in the crosshairs of Department of Labor. 

TJ Duncan, CL: I rise to speak against this. We should not suppress speech. 

MM: We now have to vote on calling of the question. Do people wish to close debate? 

Vote on whether or not to close debate in the room: 

Yes: 711  No: 175  (online)   Yes: 219  No: 95 (in person) 78%, debate is closed

Now voting on Resolution on Union Interference from Non-Members

Yes: 540  No: 277  (online)   Yes: 200-ish  No: 100-ish (couldn’t hear the in person count) Resolution Passes.

Point of Information: Does that mean they’re supposed to stop? Do they cease and desist interfering in our election cycle?

MM: Resolutions are brought forth by members. Now the union has to figure out what this means. Most resos would be more clear. We are not prepared at this exact moment to tell you what this likes. Many resos are direct, others are not. 

Fred Arcaleo: For future, debate isn’t on-on-one. Should let more people speak on big resolutions.

MM: We like to customarily allow both sides of the argument to happen. Don’t want to sit there for 20 minutes.

AGENDA ITEM #2 – ENDORSEMENT FOR CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES

Whereas, the UFT will endorse City Council candidates in the June 24, 2025, Primary Election in New York City; and

Whereas, the Primary Election will feature seven candidates seeking to fill City Council seats 2, 4, 8, 17, 21, 28, and 47 that are now open due to term limits;

Whereas, the following candidates submitted UFT candidate questionnaires and participated in interviews held by committees of UFT members who work and live in the districts that the candidates seek to represent;

Whereas, Harvey Epstein, Virginia Maloney, Elsie Encarnacion, Justin Sanchez, Yanna Henriquez, Tyrell Hankerson, and Kayla Santosuosso demonstrated to their respective interview committees that they will be the best representatives for their districts, and pledge to support their local school communities and prioritize the needs of our union;

Whereas, Elizabeth Lewinshoun, seeking to represent Council District 1, has also submitted a questionnaire and demonstrated to her interview committee her commitment to supporting schools and our union;

Whereas, the UFT endorses the following incumbent City Councilmembers: CD 3 Erik Bottcher, CD 6 Gale Brewer, CD 7 Shaun Abreu, CD 9 Yusef Salaam, CD 11 Eric Dinowitz, CD 12 Kevin Riley, CD 13 Kristy Marmorato, CD 14 Pierina Sanchez, CD 15 Oswald Feliz, CD 16 Althea Stevens, CD 18 Amanda Farias, CD 20 Sandra Ung, CD 22 Tiffany Caban, CD 23 Linda Lee, CD 24 James Gennaro, CD 25 Shekar Krishnan, CD 26 Julie Won, CD 27 Nantasha Williams, CD 29 Lynn Schulman, CD 31 Selvena Brooks-Powers, CD 32 Joann Ariola, CD 33 Lincoln Restler, CD 34 Jennifer Gutierrez, CD 36 Chi Osse, CD 37 Sandy Nurse, CD 38 Alexa Aviles, CD 41 Darlene Mealy, CD 42 Chris Banks, CD 43 Susan Zhuang, CD 45 Farah Louis, CD 46 Mercedes Narcisse, CD 49 Kamillah Hanks.  The members of this esteemed group have been supportive of our schools and our members and be it 

RESOLVED, that the UFT will endorse and support these primary candidates.

Bennet Fischer: Amendment to add CD 39 Shahana Hanif. She’s a consistent supporter of public schools and education funding. Wonderful incumbent. Supports Council Bill 1096. She was the only City Council member who testified on behalf of not amending 12-126 at the City Council hearings in January, 2023, the amendment that threatened to lower the floor for city contributions to our healthcare. In our vetting meetings, Hanif received 75% of the votes of our members to get our endorsement. We should add her to our endorsement schedule. 

Elizabeth Perez: Claims 75% did not agree. Speaks out against Hanif. 

Gloria Brandman (Secretary, RTC): I was part of UFT screening committee. We questioned both candidates and voted. That was 75% for Shahana. What kind of process is this screening committee if it carries no weight at all? Hanif has fought for fixing Tier 6, school budgets. Many unions (1199, trade unions) have already endorsed her. 

Kristin Defendis: Speaking against Hanif. Need leaders to stand with teachers, not against. Fought against abusive principal. Hanif took to Twitter and said they were removed because of racism. We stood up against corruption and Hanif took the other route without knowing the facts. No evidence as opposed to hundreds of pages of documentation I have in my home. To this day, Councilmember Hanif has made zero effort to know us as a school. 

Vote on whether or not to stop debate: 

Yes: 587  No: 129  (online)   Yes: 239  No: 51 (in person) 82%,  debate is closed

Now voting only on the amendment to add CD39 Shahana Hanif.

Yes: 273  No: 406  (online)   Yes: 97  No: 184 (in person) 39%,  amendment is not carried.

Now voting on resolution for endorsement of City Council candidates:

Yes: 466  No: 201  (online)   Yes: 199  No: 76  71%, Resolution Passes.