Why the teacher union supports Mamdani the socialist

The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) has thrown its endorsement behind Zohran Mamdani. You can tell a lot about an organization by the company it keeps.

The self-proclaimed democratic socialist from Queens believes that rent control, higher taxes, and a free-everything approach to social services will somehow save New York City. Nothing says “fighting for the working class” like destroying the economy of one of the most expensive cities in the world.

But what does all this accomplish for schoolkids? Only about half of New York City students are proficient in reading or math, and chronic absenteeism has become the new normal.

The real story here is not just Mamdani, but that teacher unions such as the UFT no longer behave like professional associations advocating for educators or students. They have morphed into powerful political machines and quasi-political committees with guaranteed funding through automatic paycheck deductions. They spend millions each year to elect candidates who promise more government control and more union power, along with a host of other progressive wish-list policies, even as public school performance continues to collapse.

The infiltration is no accident. In 2019, Politico reported that the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) had crafted what they called a “rank-and-file strategy,” a nationwide plan to embed socialist activists inside America’s most powerful labor unions. A leaked DSA memo spelled it out clearly: “UFT is the largest local of one of the largest unions in the country. It has the potential to be extremely influential in electoral politics.”

Translation: take over the teachers unions, and you control a major political pipeline.

Mission accomplished. Mamdani is a DSA-backed candidate whose platform reads like a socialist manifesto: city-run grocery stores, free public transportation, free child care, abolish cash bail, defund the police (his position on this has since moderated since he is trying to get elected in a high crime city), raise taxes, and crush charter schools that offer families an escape from failing public systems.

And yet, the man railing against “privilege” and “inequality” grew up with plenty of both. Instead of public schools, Mamdani attended the elite $68,000-per-year Bank Street School for Children, a kindergarten through 8th-grade private school in New York City. He grew up in an extremely privileged lifestyle. So when he lectures working-class New Yorkers about the “struggle” between the haves and the have-nots while sipping from the cup of elite academia, the hypocrisy is almost impressive.

The rich kid turned socialist is a psychology type worth studying.

The United Federation of Teachers, with over 190,000 members, is the largest local teachers union in the country, and one of the most politically active. To put this in perspective, the controversy-laden Chicago Teachers Union is around 30,000 members strong. The UFT is a local affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, itself a national powerhouse that spent more than $20 million on federal political activities during the 2022 election cycle, almost all of it to Democrats.

It is worth noting that the AFT openly uses a portion of member dues for political activity, while the UFT claims its political spending comes from voluntary donations to its Committee on Political Education (COPE). The UFT claims many members “voluntarily” contribute $3 to $5 per pay period, which–with 190,000 members–adds up fast.

Many UFT members also donate time during elections, which can be even more valuable than money. The union is currently recruiting members to canvas for Mamdani all across New York City, including multiple phone-banking sessions dedicated to his campaign.

So, teacher time and resources are being poured into electing this radical candidate while New York City’s public schools are failing spectacularly. The UFT’s embrace of Mamdani tells you everything you need to know about where their loyalties lie. Not with students. Not with parents. Not even with classroom teachers. They are using education as a tool for social revolution rather than as a path to excellence.

Yes, you can learn a lot about a teachers union by seeing who they enthusiastically support. The UFT has become loyal to the far-left ideology that keeps them politically powerful.