NEW YORK, N.Y. April 8, 2017 — Delegates to NYSUT’s annual Representative Assembly today elected Andrew Pallotta to a three-year term as president of the more than 600,000-member statewide union.
A former elementary teacher in the Bronx, Pallotta is an experienced union leader who previously served as NYSUT executive vice president, overseeing the union’s legislative and political action program. He succeeds Karen E. Magee, who opted not to seek a second term.
Under Pallotta’s leadership, NYSUT expanded grassroots member engagement and ramped up its political activism, setting new records for member donations to VOTE-COPE, the union’s political action fund.
“I believe in being relevant, resilient and, above all, relentless,” Pallotta said in a speech to delegates. “We will never quit fighting for those we serve, or for each other.”
Outlining a vision that emphasizes unity and activism, Pallotta said NYSUT will “move forward, speaking with one voice — a voice that raises up the concerns of working people everywhere.”
L-R: Abraham, DiBrango, Pallotta, Messner, Pecorale.
Pallotta’s slate of officers also won election:
- Sixth-grade teacher Jolene T. DiBrango, president of the Pittsford District Teachers Association and a trustee of the New York State Teachers Retirement System board, was elected executive vice president.
- J. Philippe Abraham, past director of Career Services at the University of Albany and chief negotiator for United University Professions, was elected first vice president, becoming the first higher education member to serve as a NYSUT officer.
- Paul Pecorale, a teacher from Patchogue-Medford on Long Island, was re-elected second vice president.
- Martin Messner, a teacher from Schoharie, was re-elected as secretary-treasurer.
Delegates also elected more than 70 members to the NYSUT Board of Directors.
New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with more than 600,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.