UFT President Weingarten Re-Elected In Landslide

Randi Weingarten acknowledges re-election as United Federation of Teachers president.

Randi Weingarten, the popular president of the United Federation of Teachers union, was overwhelmingly re-elected to a fourth full term by a nearly 9-to-1 margin. Weingarten and her running mates captured a clean sweep of all seats at stake in the union-wide election, according to results tabulated late on Thursday, March 29, by the American Arbitration Association.

With 46,735 UFT members casting votes for president, Weingarten received 40,665 or 87 percent, while her opponent, Kit Wainer, received 6,070, or 13 percent. Weingarten has been UFT president since 1998, when she was appointed to fill the remainder of Sandra Feldman's term shortly after Feldman became president of the American Federation of Teachers. Weingarten was re-elected in every election since then (1999, 2001 and 2004).

"I am honored that our members decided overwhelmingly to allow me to serve another term in office. Our members are the most incredible people I know, be they teachers, paraprofessionals, guidance counselors, therapists, nurses and others, and it is an honor and privilege to champion their needs and aspirations," Weingarten said. "In the next three years, we will be working with parents and others to help all children succeed. When we fight to enable educators to do their jobs effectively and get the respect and conditions and professionalism they need, we are doing nothing more than fighting to give our students the opportunities they so richly deserve."- Dan Miller