WHEREAS, on Nov. 7, 1960, more than 5,000 members of the fledgling United Federation of Teachers went on strike against their employer, the New York City Board of Education, for the right to collectively bargain, and

WHEREAS, despite the fact that striking against the school system was illegal and the unionists faced the loss of their jobs or severe penalties, these brave unionists took to the streets to fight for their right to organize and negotiate, and

WHEREAS, the strike ultimately set the stage for the UFT in 1961 to win the right to collectively bargain after teachers voted to accept the UFT as their bargaining agent, and

WHEREAS, the strike was the first teachers strike in the city’s history, and WHEREAS, we, the current members of the UFT, believe that our members need to know and commemorate those who fought for our rights especially as we now face anti-labor forces who seek the destruction of organized labor, and

WHEREAS, organized labor affords working men and women the ability to stand up for their rights and for their dignity before management and provides the working person a voice in the workplace; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that on this, the 57th anniversary of the 1960 strike, we remember the struggles of those who came before us, and salute them for standing up for what is right, and be it further

RESOLVED, that we will continue to fight for the rights of working men and women to belong to a union and negotiate salaries, benefits and working conditions as we still believe unions are the great equalizer in society.