WHEREAS, on Nov. 7, 1960, New York City’s public school teachers, led by the fledgling UFT, took to the streets and successfully struck for the right to choose a collective bargaining unit; and

WHEREAS, the strike was the first teachers’ strike in the city’s history, and The New York Times featured the story on the front page under the headline, “City Schools Disrupted by Strike of Teachers; 4,600 Suspended By Board”; and

WHEREAS, the fact that the strike was illegal under state law did not prevent thousands of teachers, secretaries, guidance counselors and social workers from participating even though they faced severe penalties or the loss of their jobs; and

WHEREAS, the 1960 strike paved the way a year later for NYC’s teachers to select the UFT to represent them in collective bargaining; and

WHEREAS, we, the current members of the UFT, believe that all of our members need to know the union’s history to remember and honor those who fought for our rights; and

WHEREAS, by knowing the past, we are armed to face the new and serious challenges created by all enemies of unions, working people and the middle class; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that as we mark the 1960 strike and 56 years of unionism, we salute the founders of this union, the union’s many leaders and the loyal members who stood up for their rights time and time again; and be it further

RESOLVED, that we will continue in their footsteps, holding high the standard, and fighting for the rights of our union’s members as well as for working people across the nation.