IN SUPPORT OF RANDI WEINGARTEN

WHEREAS, Randi Weingarten has shown strength and outstanding leadership in her five-year tenure as president of the American Federation of Teachers, one of the nation’s largest education unions with 1.5 million members; and

WHEREAS, Randi Weingarten has an innovative, solid vision for the AFT and unionism, including the launch of AFT’s Reclaim the Promise campaign; and

WHEREAS, Randi Weingarten has engaged in a major campaign to bring true education reform projects developed by AFT members and union affiliates to a national platform; and

WHEREAS, Randi Weingarten has championed issues such as affordable, accessible, quality education for all qualified students; and

WHEREAS, Randi Weingarten has been a tireless supporter of AFT affiliates; and

WHEREAS, Randi Weingarten has championed many issues and struggles of AFT affiliates; and

WHEREAS, Randi Weingarten has dedicated herself to United University Professions’ and Public Employees Federation’s fight to save jobs and healthcare services at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn; and

WHEREAS, her support played a key role in helping UUP and PEF beat back numerous attempts by the state to close or downsize the facility; and

WHEREAS, Randi Weingarten has traveled to Brooklyn to speak at several rallies held to bring attention to the dire situation at SUNY Downstate; and

WHEREAS, Randi Weingarten has been and remains an outspoken advocate for SUNY Downstate and UUP’s and PEF’s ongoing campaign to maintain the facility as a full-service, state-operated public hospital; and

WHEREAS, Randi Weingarten has offered and provided AFT’s resources and support to UUP and PEF to aid the battle to defend jobs and vital healthcare services at SUNY Downstate:

RESOLVED, that United University Professions and Public Employees Federation wish to publicly thank AFT President Randi Weingarten for her unwavering support of SUNY Downstate Medical Center; and

RESOLVED, that UUP and PEF commend President Weingarten for speaking out in a strong voice to defend the jobs of thousands of unionized employees, as well as the vital healthcare services these workers provide to hundreds of thousands of patients each year.