NYSUT president calls internal challenge a U.F.T. power grab
ALBANY—New York State United Teachers president Richard Iannuzzi said a slate of challengers running against his administration are aiming to concentrate power in New York City, a claim that his executive vice president and now indirect opponent calls “fearmongering.”
Speaking about the April election told Capital on Monday that the race “is not about policy. It's about concentrating power and potentially limiting voice.”
He said Andrew Pallotta, his No. 2 who is spearheading a slate of candidates running against him, including presidential candidate Karen Magee, is “a U.F.T. selection,” referring to New York City's teachers' union, the United Federation of Teachers. Pallotta was a U.F.T. official before coming to NYSUT.
“I get that. I respect that,” Iannuzzi said. “My job, my responsibility is to be sure that any group of elected officers represents the entire state, and that's what I plan on doing.”
Pallotta, who is running for re-election with the challengers, said Iannuzzi's claim is one made in desperation as the president attempts to hold onto his seat. Iannuzzi, who is from Long Island, has led NYSUT since 2005; the union holds elections every three years.
