UFT High School Vice Presidents

George Altomare, who just passed, was the first United Federation of Teachers HS Vice President. The list of those who came after is not too long…

Let’s start with the list. The high schools have ever been a rowdy division, and the heart of the non-Unity votes in the UFT. That’s worth some digging, some discussion, finding and recovering some of our own history. But for now, the list:

UFT HS VPs

Michael Shulman represented an opposition caucus – New Action. In 1985 he beat George Altomare head to head for HS VP, fair and square. But the union’s leadership grouping, called Unity, sued to overturn the election (that they had conducted!) A second election was held. Shulman won again. George retired the day the result was confirmed. Shulman is the only Vice President in the UFT’s history not to come from Unity Caucus. More on that below. Shulman served one term, and was narrowly defeated by John Soldini. Mike returned to the classroom, I believe at Fort Hamilton High School.

UFT VPs at large for High Schools

John Soldini (Unity), Shulman and Altomare were the only three HS VPs to be elected directly by the members in the high schools. Unity, desperate never again to lose the position, converted all the VPs to Vice Presidents at Large. Up to that point, high school teachers elected the high school vice president. After two amendments, all UFT members – teachers, paras, secretaries, retirees – from high school, from middle school, from elementary school, from everywhere else the UFT represents people – all of them voted for the “Vice President at Large for High Schools.”