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Frequently Asked Questions

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A list of the most commonly asked questions.

Where can I find my annual benefits statement and what information does that document contain?

The Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) issues this individualized report each fall to in-service members and members on a leave of absence for up to seven school years. The statement summarizes the members' Total Service Credit and lists their designated beneficiaries. Benefit estimates and benefit projections are also provided to certain retirement-eligible members. This information is reported as of the previous June 30.

To see your statement, go to the TRS page at: https://www.trsnyc.org/.

What is the role of a UFT Political Action Coordinator (PAC) and what are some ways they could help me and my school?

The UFT's Political Action Department is active in a wide variety of political battles across the city in support of New York’s children and schools. Our Political Action Coordinators (PAC) are key players in this work. 

PACs handle:

  • Day to day borough activities
  • City Council and state legislation
  • Volunteer work
  • Phone banking
  • Canvassing
  • School Budgets: Participatory budgeting through City Council/ Capitol Funding
  • Lobby Day
  • District lobbying for State and City legislatures goes through the PAC

At all times, UFT members and staff must notify their PAC that a politician is coming to their school building.

PACs can help with: 
 

  • Graduation
  • Speakers for school events
  • Turkeys and other donations
  • Giveaways
  • Support for school fairs
  • COPE and Voter Registration

For more information or to get involved in political action, contact the Political Action Department at 212-598-7747. You can also reach your borough’s political action coordinator using the information below:

Borough Political Action Coordinators:

Borough political action coordinators

Brooklyn: gmonte [at] uft [dot] org (Greg Monte)
Bronx: mborrelli [at] uft [dot] org (Margaret Borrelli)
Manhattan: dgault [at] uft [dot] org (Dennis Gault)
Queens: lhughes [at] uft [dot] org (Lamar Hughes)
Staten Island: dcoppola [at] uft [dot] org (Donna Coppola)

Get more information about the UFT's Political Action Department »

How do I place an advertisement/ad in the UFT paper/New York Teacher?

Any advertising questions should be directed to Jackie Gottlieb. She can be reached at 212-598-7735 or via email at NYT_advertising [at] uft [dot] org (NYT_advertising[at]uft[dot]org).

I have an idea for a story for the UFT paper/New York Teacher. Who can I share this with?

Please send an email to Suzanne Popadin, Editor of New York Teacher at New_York_Teacher [at] uft [dot] org (New_York_Teacher[at]uft[dot]org). Please include the best phone number where we will be able to reach you.

A member/colleague has passed away and I would like to get an obituary in the UFT paper/New York Teacher. Who can I notify?

We don't publish obituaries in the UFT paper, but they are published on our UFT Honors web site at https://ufthonors.uft.org.

Please fill out our online form to tell us about the life of a UFT member who has died. 
 

I’m not receiving the New York Teacher/UFT paper. How do I get it sent to me?

Contact the UFT membership department in writing, either by emailing membership [at] uft [dot] org (membership[at]uft[dot]org) or by sending a written request to the UFT Membership Department, 52 Broadway, New York, NY 10004.

I no longer wish to receive the UFT paper/New York Teacher. How can I get this to stop being sent to me?

Contact the UFT membership department in writing, either by emailing membership [at] uft [dot] org (membership[at]uft[dot]org), or by sending a written request to the UFT Membership Department, 52 Broadway, New York, NY 10004.

Do UFT Chapter Leaders receive any additional compensation for their work?

UFT Chapter Leaders receive an annual stipend of $6 per member they represent. They also have an opportunity to receive additional funds, based on a points system, if they are more active participants in union matters and meetings. 

Does the UFT offer a service to help members to prepare wills and other legal documents?

NYSUT offers a legal services plan that covers wills and a variety of other services, which UFT members are eligible to join. For more information and how to enroll, visit the NYSUT website at: https://memberbenefits.nysut.org/program-service/legal-and-financial/legal-service-plan

Do I have a right to see my school's budget?

A school's chapter leader and chapter consultation committee has the right to review as well as to provide input into spending decisions. The principal is also required to share school budgetary information with their faculty. To learn more about reading budgets and finding your school's budget online, visit the UFT's budget tutorial online: https://www.uft.org/sites/default/files/attachments/reading-budgets-tutorial.pdf