Petition Calling on the UFT to Rescind the Endorsement of Scott Stringer Immediately and Engage Rank and File Members in a Re-Vote for the UFT Mayoral Endorsement 

In light of recent allegations made against Mayoral candidate and New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, we call on the UFT to immediately rescind their endorsement of Stringer and begin a process of engaging rank and file membership at meetings at the chapter level to determine next steps, including a rank and file endorsement vote that includes Dianne Morales. 

If you believe that the UFT should:

1. Rescind their endorsement immediately and
2. Begin a new process of including rank and file members in the endorsement decision making process, and include Dianne Morales as a potential candidate,

Please sign this petition to show your support, and let your delegate and chapter leader know. We are collecting signatures prior to the next Delegates Assembly scheduled for May 12, 2021.

The UFT Endorsement process was undemocratic to begin with. Rank and file members had very little decision-making power nor understanding of the process. Moreover, at the Delegate Assembly, all leadership speaking were male. Rank and file members then learned of the UFT leadership’s continued support of Stringer via a press statement, released by a journalist. 

The UFT’s brief statement in defense of Scott Stringer last week was appalling. Similar to UFT’s silence on allegations against Cuomo, the UFT’s failure to demand accountability from Scott Stringer adds insult to injury, suggesting the UFT prioritizes relationships with politicians over the experiences of survivors and that of members in our union.  Stringer has lost nearly all major endorsements: first State Senator Jessica Ramos, then UFCW Local 1500, Jabari Brisport, Rep Jamaal Bowman, Working Families Party, Sunrise Movement, The Jewish Vote, Biaggi, Salazar, Niou, Catalina Cruz, Mark Levine, Citizen Action NY, the list goes on. Four mayoral candidates, Dianne Morales, Kathryn Garcia, Maya Wiley, and Shaun Donovan have called for Stringer to drop out, as has Jean Kim. On May 4, 2021, Kim filed a civil rights complaint against Stringer with the NYS Office of Attorney General Letitia James. The UFT is one of the few remaining endorsers of Stringer's campaign.

We want our union leadership to make it clear that sexual harassment and assault have no place in the workplace, or our society; not hide behind an abuser’s excuses or “long history of supporting women.” As a majority female union, it is essential that our leadership stand with survivors of sexual assault and against sexual harassment and abuse.