Labor unions ramped up their efforts to help elect former Vice President Joe Biden to the presidency. The AFT organized members to call and text voters in 15 states while the SEIU is focusing on reaching voters of color.

UFT members supported by their union helped pull off a return to in-classroom instruction during a phased-in reopening that began on Sept. 21 and, by Oct. 1, incorporated 500,000 students from every grade.

District 75 schools, along with 3-K and pre-K sites, opened their doors for students on Sept. 21, a week before the rest of the school system. District 75 was tapped to go first because in-person learning is particularly important for its students.

In a school year full of change, one thing is still the same: Dial-A-Teacher, the UFT’s free homework help line, is up and running every Monday through Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m., offering K-12 students and their parents homework support.

Eadie Shanker, a UFT founder and the wife of former UFT President Albert Shanker, died on Sept. 19 at age 87. A teacher, union organizer and city activist, she was dedicated to the UFT Albert Shanker Scholarships.

Prodded by the UFT and its members, the city closed 169 public schools and sites in Brooklyn and Queens after COVID-19 hotspots sprang up shortly after schools successfully reopened.