It worked well to reduce paperwork. So the UFT and the Department of Education agreed in the proposed contract to expand the process to resolve other school-based disputes.

The UFT has thrown its full support behind Andrew Gounardes, who's running on the Democratic line to unseat State Senator Marty Golden, who represents the 22nd New York Senate District in southern Brooklyn.

An Obama-era rule designed to help students cheated by for-profit colleges get relief on their education debt finally took effect on Oct. 16 after efforts by the Trump administration to block it.

About 3,000 UFT members participated in this year's Making Strides against Breast Cancer walk on Staten Island, while walks took place simultaneously in three other boroughs, on Long Island and in New Jersey. The walk each year raises awareness of the disease and funds to fight it.

The overriding theme of the proposed DOE-UFT contract agreement is empowering educators to fight for the working conditions they need to do their jobs.

In the proposed contract announced on Oct. 11, the UFT has negotiated an expedited process to bring relief to teachers facing oversize classes sooner and to address unresolved violations that must go to arbitration faster.