UFT, Teachers’ Union, Endorses Espaillat

espaillat

Espaillat

UFT President Mulgrew Praises Espaillat’s Commitment to New York’s Teachers, Parents and Students

Today, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), which represents more than 200,000 men and women in New York, announced their support for Adriano Espaillat in the NY-13 Congressional Primary, adding to a windfall of union endorsements in the past few weeks. This support comes just days after RWDSU and hours after DC 9 announced theirs and joins many labor unions for Espaillat.

“Today the UFT’s Delegate Assembly voted to recommend to our state affiliate, the New York State United Teachers, that NYSUT endorse State Senator Adriano Espaillat in the race for the 13th Congressional District,” Michael Mulgrew, President of UFT said. “He has been a vocal champion for pre-k funding and for additional state aid for education, and a proponent of Community Schools, which put needed health and community services where they have the most impact – inside city schools.  He has also been a leading voice for banning standardized tests for our youngest students, supported a three-year moratorium against the use of Common Core testing for student promotion and placement, and has backed giving the city and state Comptrollers the power to audit charters, particularly charter practices that limit the enrollment and retention of high-needs students. Senator Espaillat understands what New York schools need and will make sure the voices of teachers, parents and students are heard in Congress.”

“I am humbled by the support of the UFT and its 200,000 members,” Adriano Espaillat said. “Teachers are among the most important people in our children’s lives and in the shaping of our future. In order for our community to succeed we need to give our parents, students and teachers every resource we can. In Albany I have fought to do just that and in Congress, I will continue to lead the way for fair contracts, school funding and education Opportunity for All.”

The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) represents more than 200,000 active and retired teachers, classroom paraprofessionals, school secretaries, attendance teachers, guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers and speech therapists. The UFT is part of the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Espaillat has dominated organized labor endorsements with District Council 9 IUPAT, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, Transport Workers Union Local 100 and the Laundry & Distribution workers affiliate of Workers United SEIU showing their support earlier in the campaign.

Also part of the broad coalition of support is New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Bronx County Democratic Party Chair and Assemblymember Carl E. Heastie (AD -83); Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.; Senators Brad Hoylman (SD-27) and Gustavo Rivera (SD-33), Assemblymembers Karim Camara (AD-43), Robert Rodriguez (AD-68), Gabriela Rosa (AD-72), José Rivera (AD-73), Jeffrey Dinowitz (AD-81), and Victor Pichardo (AD-86); Councilmembers Mark Levine (CD-7), Ydanis Rodriguez (CD-10), Andrew Cohen (CD-11) and Ritchie Torres (CD-15); the Barack Obama Democratic Club of Upper Manhattan, and the Democratic Club of El Barrio & East Harlem.

In Congress, Adriano Espaillat plans to:

Champion Affordable Housing Opportunity for All: Affordable housing is disappearing in our community, and longtime residents are being driven from their homes. Adriano Espaillat led the fight to renew and strengthen New York State’s tenant protection laws, and he will bring the same determined focus to Washington.Housing Opportunity for All will help keep New Yorkers from being displaced and make sure our City isn’t just open to millionaires.

Empower our District Through Immigration Opportunity for All: Immigration reform is a defining civil rights issue of our time. Espaillat believes the time is now to fix our broken immigration laws and bring over 11 million Americans out of the shadows. The current system has split families apart, and left Latino, Caribbean, and African immigrant communities in the 13th Congressional District vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Espaillat has fought for immigration Opportunity for All in Albany He’ll bring the same fight and energy to D.C.

Focus Economic Opportunity for All: Espaillat believes that economic development isn’t successful if current residents are left behind. Espaillat will fight to shift public subsidies from the big box chain stores paying minimum wage salaries, to existing small and minority-owned businesses looking to grow, and local entrepreneurs who need capital to get started. In Congress, he will work to reform and expand the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and use participatory budgeting to increase access to economic Opportunity for All.

More About 13th District Congressional Candidate Adriano Espaillat:

Adriano Espaillat got his start as a community activist in Northern Manhattan, and currently serves in the New York State Senate. In the legislature, he quickly distinguished himself as a reformer and progressive fighter who has stood up for working families.

In 2011, Espaillat led the fight to renew New York State’s tenant protection laws, which were set to expire that year. Espaillat’s advocacy safeguarded over 1 million units of affordable housing, and earned new protections for over 2.5 million people, including the creation of the Tenant Protection Unit to stop harassment and abuse.

As Chair of the Senate Latino Conference, Espaillat has championed state-based immigration reforms, including: legislation allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, the DREAM Act, and the Farmworkers Bill of Rights.

Espaillat has been a vocal advocate for tenants, consumers, veterans, immigrants and local businesses. He has championed marriage equality and civil rights issues, and efforts to protect our environment from hydrofracking and other dangers.

He has passed laws preserving affordable housing, giving low-income day care workers the right to organize and obtain health care, and sponsored measures to improve hospital translation services. He established a higher education scholarship fund for relatives of the victims of American Airlines Flight 587, which crashed on November 12, 2001.

 

 

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