The purpose of this post is to objectively unpack the extent to which the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) operates in a democratic manner. This will involve examining how decisions are made within our union, the role of members in decision-making processes, the election of leaders, and the overall transparency and accountability within the UFT.
Answers of this kind are not readily accessible nor thoroughly explained by our union. In response, this blog post was put together so you, the reader, may explore the union's inner workings, assess for yourself: “How Democratic is the UFT?”, and engage in dialogue with your coworkers about the union we deserve.
Consider these problem-posing questions as you read:
- How does the UFT operate?
- Whose voices are centered and whose are marginalized?
- Who benefits and who is harmed?
- Is the current structure democratic?
General Organizational Framework
The organizational framework of our union is built through three governing entities:
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These bodies are instituted through elections.
Elections FAQs
When are the elections?
- Administrative Committee and Executive Board elections are held once every three years.[1] The most recent election took place in Spring 2022 where members voted on every elected position that constitutes the two branches.
- Delegate Assembly elections occur every three years. These elections, widely known as the elections to elect chapter leader and delegate(s) representatives from each school, took place in Spring 2024. To view the Guide and Bylaws for Chapter Elections, click here.
Who can participate in the election?
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UFT elections are open to both in-service members and retirees. However, in the context of the Administrative Committee and Executive Board elections, retirees' votes are weighted. Specifically…
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- Should the total number of ballots cast by retired members exceed twenty-three thousand five hundred (23,500), their votes will be weighted on the basis of a ratio between twenty-three thousand five hundred (23,500) and the actual number of votes cast.[2]
- It is also worth noting, no other teacher local in the country allows retirees to vote in their elections.
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How many pages are the ballots for Administrative Committee and Executive Board elections?
- The UFT election ballot has at least 5 double sided pages. For example, UFT Election 2022.
Are there official debates, forums or town halls to contrast the candidates?
- The union’s constitution, as it is currently instituted, does NOT commission or require debates, forums or town halls to contrast the candidates.
With an extensive list of candidates and limited chances for them to communicate with members, can informed voting decisions be made?
- Some argue that the current setup makes it difficult to cast an informed vote. Conversely, others believe that informed voting is feasible through existing methods like distributing election literature in staff mailboxes, advertising in our union's monthly paper, and relying on word of mouth.
Who is eligible to run in the elections?
- All union members in good standing are eligible. But to be a competitive candidate for a position, one must invest significant time and money, resources that few, if any, possess. For this reason, the most practical way for you to run a campaign, which includes petitioning and voter outreach, is by joining a slate. A slate is a group of candidates running in multi-seat or multi-position elections on a shared platform, similar to a political party. The byproduct of the current election system, as seen in the 2022 election, includes low voter turnout (25% of eligible voters) and the ongoing reign of the Unity Caucus which has held power over the union for the past 60 years and is currently led by Michael Mulgrew.
What are union caucuses?
- In the context of a union, a caucus refers to a group or faction within the union that shares common interests, goals, and principles. These groups often form around specific issues or ideologies and work together to advance their agenda within the union. Caucuses in unions can advocate for particular policies, represent specific constituencies, or promote certain candidates during union elections. They play a role in shaping the union's direction and policies by mobilizing members around shared objectives. However, entrenched and corrupt caucuses can also have negative impacts on the union. They may perpetuate insider control, limit democratic participation, and hinder transparency and accountability in decision-making processes, creating a culture of factionalism, polarization, intimidation and coercion which spurs an environment that is hostile and divisive.
Three Pillars of Governance
Primary Source Document: https://www.uft.org/files/attachments/secure/uft-constitution-2015.pdf
The Administrative Committee
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The Administrative Committee (AdCom) oversees the day-to-day operation of the union and thus has the power to…
- [via the president] “prepare the agenda for each meeting of the Executive Board” which is the second governing body[3]
- [via the president] “act as chair of [said] Executive Board” [4] .
- “prepare the agenda” for each meetings of the third governing body, The Delegate Assembly[5]
- “call meetings of the Delegate Assembly”[6]
- “implement the decisions of the Executive Board and the Delegate Assembly”[7]
- There are twelve individuals on the AdCom. They are commonly referred to as “officers'' or “union leadership”. The group consists of the UFT President alongside seven Vice Presidents, representing different divisions in the union (e.g. Elementary, Middle, High, Vocational, Special, Non-DOE, and Education), a UFT Secretary, a UFT Treasurer and their assistants.[8]
Their salaries and benefits range from $73,320 to $334,444 working 35 hours per week.
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The average salary of an Officer is $159,573.00
- In contrast, entry level paras make less than $30,000.00 a year and no more than $18.50 an hour. A single person with no children needs to make at least $33 an hour to live in New York City. Source: https://www.fixparapay.org/about
- Within the payroll of our union are non-elected individuals being paid a salary as high as $305,599.00.
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It is solely through union dues that salaries for these individuals, whether elected or not, are funded.
- Check the Election FAQs portion in this blog post to understand how these 12 officers are elected.
- See who our current officers are with a click.
The Executive Board
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The Executive Board (commonly referred to as The E Board) legislates policies for the union and comprises 96 elected members, which include...
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36 seats that are divided among four divisions: elementary, middle, high schools, and functional chapters. Each division is guaranteed at least two seats, and the remaining 28 positions are distributed proportionally according to the membership count in each division.
- For instance, in the Spring 2022 election, there were 11 EB seats for Elementary, 5 EB seats for Middle School, 7 EB seats for High School, and 19 EB seats for Functional Chapters.[9]
If you belong to a particular division, you can only vote for those candidates who are vying to represent your division.
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For example, out of the 36 positions, a high school teacher can only vote for the candidates vying for the 7 High School EB seats.[10]
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It's also important to note that all D75 teachers are considered as “functional” members for purposes of the election, which results in precluding them to vote for their divisional representatives (as in Elementary, Middle, or High School).
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48 seats of the EB are designated as "At-Large," meaning every member can vote for these positions regardless of their division.
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To illustrate an example, in the Spring 2022 elections a High School teacher votes for 7 High School EB in addition to a separate group of candidates who are vying for a spot on the 48 “at-large” EB seats. At the same time, an Elementary School teacher votes for 12 Elementary School EB seats in addition to those seeking a seat from the very same 48 “at-large” EB seats.
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A "winner take all" rule is applied to both the divisional and at-large seats. This policy also presides over the election of the Administrative Committee. In each case, the slate (i.e. candidates) that secures the highest number of votes within their division or for the at-large positions takes all the seats.[11] For the Administrative Committee, the slate receiving the highest number of votes secures all 12 officer positions. This lack of proportionality means that the winning slate receives all seats, regardless of the proportion of votes they received.
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For example, Slate “A” wins 51% of the High School votes. Slate “B” wins 49% of the High School vote. Per this "winner take all" policy, slate “A” wins all 7 High School EB seats.
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Second example. Slate A wins 51% of the "at-large" vote. Slate B wins 49% of the "at-large" vote. Slate A wins 48 of the 48 "at-large" seats".
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Third example. Slate A wins 40% of the “officers” vote. Slate B wins 30% of the vote. Slate C also wins 30% of the vote. Slate A, having the highest number of votes, wins all 12 offices in the Administrative Committee.
The byproduct of a "winner take all" rule is the exclusion of minority viewpoints, limiting voter choice, distorting voter intent, and perpetuating power for dominant factions, creating political polarization and reduced inclusivity in representation.
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The last 12 EB seats are occupied by the 12 officers from the Administrative Committee
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As a result, the union’s president, 7 vice presidents, secretary, treasurer and their respective assistants[12] also have voting power within the Executive Board.
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36 seats that are divided among four divisions: elementary, middle, high schools, and functional chapters. Each division is guaranteed at least two seats, and the remaining 28 positions are distributed proportionally according to the membership count in each division.
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Through the union, certain members of the Executive Board (excluding the 12 Officers) receive salaries up to $212,833.00
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The process that determines a paid executive board seat is unknown, which creates a practice susceptible to coercion and favoritism.
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A friendly reminder that these salaries are paid for by us, the members of the union.
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The Delegate Assembly
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The Delegate Assembly (known as The DA) is the highest decision making body of the union.
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The DA comprises...
- representatives (that is, School Chapter Leader and Delegate) from every school
- delegates from each functional chapter (paraprofessionals, retirees, etc.)
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members of the other two governing bodies of the union (i.e., The Administrative Committee and 84 Executive Board members) per ex officio status [13].
- It's worth noting, members from the AdCom and Eboard all have voting rights in the DA, even if they are no longer working educators.
- The function of the DA is to vote on legislation concerning the union’s overall operation and organization [14]
- The agenda of the DA is set by the Administrative Committee with input from the EBoard [15]
- Every three years [16] Each school [17] in New York City that has UFT members elects their representatives (Chapter Leader and Delegate)
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The DA's meetings are run according to Robert's Rules of Order [18] unless specified otherwise in the Constitution or in the by-laws.
- Robert's Rules of Order provides a procedural framework for meetings. It ensures order and fairness with rules for proposing motions, debating, and voting. It requires a quorum, records minutes, forms committees, and conducts elections, promoting efficient and democratic decision-making.
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According to Robert's Rules, the DA designates a "presiding officer" or chair to manage meetings. Unlike many organizations that follow Robert's Rules and elect their chair, in the DA, meetings are led by the union president or someone chosen by them.
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Though widely accepted as a norm, this practice is not mandated by the UFT constitution and could be altered by a majority vote of the DA.
- The UFT constitution grants the DA authority to establish its own by-laws to regulate meeting procedures, chairmanship, and related matters [19], superseding Robert's Rules of Order [20]. However, as of now, no by-laws have been drafted, or if they have been, they have not been distributed to delegates.
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Though widely accepted as a norm, this practice is not mandated by the UFT constitution and could be altered by a majority vote of the DA.
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The DA comprises...
- Because the DA is the highest decision making body in the union on most matters, it can serve as a regulatory counterbalance to the AdCom and EBoard, meaning, it acts as a watchdog to make sure that the AdCom (Administrative Committee) and EBoard (Executive Board) follow the rules and don't have too much unchecked power, ensuring fairness and transparency in how decisions are made
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In practice, the DA encounters significant challenges in overseeing the AdCom and EBoard, primarily because the AdCom wields considerable influence in DA meetings through its control over the agenda-setting process and the chairmanship. This authority enables the AdCom to prioritize agenda items that reflect their own interests and those of their caucus and close allies within the union, thereby limiting the DA's ability to monitor and influence decisions impartially.
- Let me illustrate this with an analogy. Imagine a classroom where the student council, made up of a few influential students, controls what topics are discussed in meetings and who gets to speak. They often choose subjects that interest them and their friends, ignoring topics important to the rest of the class. Similarly, in the DA, the AdCom, made up of union officers, can prioritize their own interests and those of their allies, sometimes ignoring important issues supported by others in the union.
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In principle, this authority can be wielded to influence when and how discussions and votes occur during DA meetings, thereby shaping the overall flow and structure of decision-making processes of the DA, implying that the union officers —which consist solely of the union president and his allies per our election procedures— can effectively steer discussions in the DA to emphasize the priorities and perspectives of their supporters while potentially overshadowing or sidelining alternative viewpoints or issues, therefore profoundly influencing the decisions made within the DA.
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In cases where the officers and their supporters are on the losing side of a vote in the DA, the union officers –due to their responsibility to carry out the decisions of the Executive Board and the Delegate Assembly [21]– may resort to actions that disregard or stifle the implementation of adopted resolutions.
- For instance, despite two resolutions passed in the DA affirming support for the New York Health Act, the union leadership openly opposes its passage. This example illustrates how officers can act contrary to the expressed mandate of its members.
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In cases where the officers and their supporters are on the losing side of a vote in the DA, the union officers –due to their responsibility to carry out the decisions of the Executive Board and the Delegate Assembly [21]– may resort to actions that disregard or stifle the implementation of adopted resolutions.
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In practice, the DA encounters significant challenges in overseeing the AdCom and EBoard, primarily because the AdCom wields considerable influence in DA meetings through its control over the agenda-setting process and the chairmanship. This authority enables the AdCom to prioritize agenda items that reflect their own interests and those of their caucus and close allies within the union, thereby limiting the DA's ability to monitor and influence decisions impartially.
In conclusion, this post has aimed to objectively analyze the democratic practices of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT). We've examined governing entities, decision-making processes and leadership elections within the UFT. These aspects, crucial to understanding our union, are often not clearly communicated. This post serves to fill that gap, allowing you to delve into the UFT's operations, evaluate its democratic credentials, and initiate discussions with colleagues on the union's future direction. So, let’s recall the 4 problem-posing questions: How does the UFT operate? Whose voices are centered and whose are marginalized? Who benefits and who is harmed? Is the current structure democratic?
We hope you found this post to be helpful. Thank you for taking the time to read it.
In Solidarity,
Anonymous
Appendix A: A More Democratic Union
Below are examples of alternative governing structures used by teacher locals across the country. These examples can provide valuable insights to what a democratic union can look like.
Chicago Teacher Union (CTU) Constitution and By-Laws
- Provides union members with a draft ballot a certain number of days before the official ballot is released to encourage discussions about the candidates.
- Allows the union members to ask questions to the president with no limitations or restraints during official meetings.
United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) Constitution and By-Laws.
Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT) Constitution and By-Laws
Saint Paul Federation of Educators (SPFE) Constitution, Election, Financial Policy
Washington Education Association (WEA) Constitution and Rules
Oregon Education Association (OEA) Governing Documents
Appendix B: Supplementary Materials
- UFT Governing Structure
- UFT Power Structure
Endnotes
[1] Article IV. Section 07 of the UFT Constitution
[2] Article IV. Section 06 of the UFT Constitution
[3] Article V Section 19 of the UFT Constitution
[4] Article V Section 14 of the UFT Constitution
[5] Article VI Section 03 of the UFT Constitution
[6] Article VI Section 03 of the UFT Constitution
[7] Article VI Section 02 of the UFT Constitution
[8] Article VI Section 01 of the UFT Constitution & Article IV Section 01 of the UFT Constitution
[9] Article V Section 01 (Part B) of the UFT Constitution
[10] Article V Section 02 of the UFT Constitution
[11] Article IV Section 06 of the UFT Constitution
[12] Article V Section 01 (Part A) of the UFT Constitution
[13] Article VII Section 01 of the UFT Constitution
[14] Article VII Section 06 of the UFT Constitution
[15] Article VI Section 03 of the UFT Constitution
[16] Article VII Section 03 of the UFT Constitution
[17] Article VII Section 01 of the UFT Constitution
[18] Article XIII Section 03 of the UFT Constitution
[19] Article XII of the UFT Constitution
[20] Article XIII Section 03 of the UFT Constitution
[21] Article VI Section 02 of the UFT Constitution
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