Elizabeth Langiulli, a pivotal figure in UFT leadership for four decades, died on Sept. 24 at age 85. She believed “the union’s strength lies in its school chapters” and was among the first women elected as a chapter leader.

Mary Vaccaro, the Queens District 26 representative for the past 16 years and a teacher for 26 years, was elected UFT vice president for education by the UFT Executive Board, succeeding Evelyn DeJesus, now AFT executive vice president.

While all schools are fully remote in Los Angeles, the teachers union — United Teachers Los Angeles —reached an agreement with the city on Oct. 8 to offer in-person tutoring for students with disabilities and English language learners

An arbitrator overturned City Hall’s decision to delay lump-sum payments to thousands of city educators, ordering the city to pay half the amount owed by Oct. 31, and the rest by the end of July 2021.

Public school districts around New York State are seeing layoffs as they lose millions in state aid because of the pandemic-fueled financial crisis. Schenectady laid off about 450 educators while Albany laid off 222.

The UFT mobilized members to get out the vote for Joe Biden for president and other candidates up and down the ballot who support the union's education, economic and labor agendas.