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Teacher Union Day

Teacher Union Day 2019

Teacher Union Day, which is celebrated each year in the fall, commemorates the strike that put the newly formed UFT on the path to being the activist organization that it is today. On this day, we honor the past leaders who inspire us and celebrate the present leaders who continue in their footsteps.

Below are some of the awards given out at the ceremony:

  • Charles Cogen Award — Given for outstanding service to the union rendered by a veteran leader.
  • David Wittes Award — Given to a person or a group that has shown outstanding courage, dedication and commitment to the ideals of the UFT.
  • Jules Kolodny Award — Given to an individual who has shown outstanding leadership and commitment to the trade union movement with years of leadership yet to be fulfilled.
  • Sidney Harris Award — Given to an outstanding leader in the area of special education.
  • Backer-Scheintaub Award — Given to honor the lives of Gerald Backer and Mildred Scheintaub by encouraging potential new teacher union leaders.
  • Audrey Chasen Award — Given in memory of Audrey Chasen, a former teacher mentor in the New York City public schools.
  • Marsh/Raimo Award — Given in recognition of political action.
  • Albert Lee Smallheiser Award — This award recognizes the work of educators who strive to improve the working conditions of their colleagues.

Teacher Union Day 2024

Teacher Union Day Marsh/Raimo award winners take a group photo on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton

Chapter leaders are congratulated by UFT Political Director Vanecia Wilson (second from left) after receiving Marsh/Raimo Awards for their political activism. Manhattan Member Representative Seung Lee (center) accepted on behalf of his wife, Chapter Leader Carmen Romero Lee.

Mike LoVerde
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Teacher Union Day Marsh/Raimo award winners take a group photo on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton

Chapter leaders are congratulated by UFT Political Director Vanecia Wilson (second from left) after receiving Marsh/Raimo Awards for their political activism. Manhattan Member Representative Seung Lee (center) accepted on behalf of his wife, Chapter Leader Carmen Romero Lee.

Mike LoVerde
UFT President Michael Mulgrew with former Charles Cogen Award winner Tom Murphy at 2024 Teacher Union Day on November 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton

UFT President Michael Mulgrew presents the Charles Cogen Award, the union’s highest honor, to Tom Murphy in recognition of Murphy’s nearly 60 years of outstanding service as an educator, union activist, political director and Retired Teachers Chapter leader.

Jonathan Fickies
District 79 Representative Pat Crispino is presented an award at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton

District 79 Representative Patricia Crispino (second from left) accepts the new Richard Procida Award from Ellen Gallin Procida (left), the wife of the late District 19 representative for whom the award is named, in recognition of her service to the union, commitment to labor relations and student advocacy, as Mulgrew and UFT Vice President Karen Alford look on.

Jonathan Fickies
Forty-five elementary school chapter leaders receive Ely Trachtenberg Awards at the UFT's Teacher Union Day event at the Midtown Hilton on Nov. 3, 2024. .

Forty-five elementary school chapter leaders receive Ely Trachtenberg Awards for their exemplary service.

Jonathan Fickies
Middle School Ely Trachtenberg Awardees take the stage for a group photo at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton.

Union officials gather on stage with the 10 middle school chapter leaders who received Ely Trachtenberg Awards for exemplary service.

Jonathan Fickies