Amazon warehouse workers in Alabama began holding the corporation’s first union vote in the United States on Feb. 8. Amazon does not employ any union labor in the country and the approximately 5,800 fulfillment center employees are facing stiff opposition from the tech giant.

Miguel Cardona, President Joe Biden's nominee for education secretary, pledged at a Senate hearing on Feb. 3 to reopen schools with new science-based guidance, to expand testing and to prioritize coronavirus vaccines for teachers.

Thirteen thousand UFT members were matched with vaccine providers NYU Langone or EmblemHealth in the first six days of the UFT’s vaccine distribution program, eliminating the need for them to search for locations on their own. Priority is given to in-service members who currently have in-school assignments.

Licensed Practical Nurses who are members of the Federation of Nurses/ UFT overwhelmingly ratified a two-year contract with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York in which the union made no concessions while achieving a salary increase and negotiating regular consultation meetings with the employer.

This is the February issue of the citywide parent newsletter.

The following email was sent on Tuesday, Jan. 26, to UFT-represented licensed practical nurses at the Visiting Nurse Service of New York from UFT Vice President for Non-DOE Members Anne Goldman.