Many city kids are struggling in the classroom, but there’s one subject the teachers union excels at — spending members’ dues to wield political clout, protect jobs and maintain the status quo.
The United Federation of Teachers shelled out $169 million last year, splurging on everything from six-figure salaries, posh hotels and pricey catering to backing groups against charter schools and funding ads attacking Gov. Cuomo over teacher evaluations, records show.
The spending — fueled by up to $54 semi-monthly dues paid by 117,424 active members — increased 5.5 percent from 2014, and has critics fuming.
“The purpose isn’t about educating the children. It’s about the teachers, the adults,” charged former Bronx Assemblyman Michael Benjamin. “It’s a political operation. They’re highly effective at protecting teachers’ jobs . . . but when you look at the performance of students, the results are mixed.”
A Post review of the UFT’s 2015 spending report found:
- The union pays its own leaders well: UFT boss Mike Mulgrew made $261,203 last year — more than the $225,000 salary of Mayor de Blasio and $222,000 salary of Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. Three other union staffers pulled in over $200,000: chief financial officer David Hickey ($235,558), general counsel Adam Ross ($224,591), and top aide Emil Pietromonaco ($208,991). More than 100 staffers got $100,000 in combined salaries and expenses.
- The union spent $2.43 million on ads — a 31 percent increase over 2014. Some of the ads slammed Cuomo for pushing to have state Common Core test results weigh heavily in teacher evaluations.
- Groups bashing charter schools are rewarded. The union steered $155,000 to the rebranded ACORN, New York Communities for Change, $56,910 to the state NAACP, and $10,000 to Bertha Lewis’ Black Institute.
- The union shelled out $2.5 million for lodging and conventions — including $1.29 million for training and retreats at the Hilton Westchester, $1 million for its spring bash at the NY Hilton in Midtown, $75,257 at the Homewood Suites in Denver, and $7,207 at the InterContinental Hotel in San Juan.
- It spent more than $200,000 on entertainment to provide members discounted tickets to see movies, attend events at Madison Square Garden, and go to Mets games.
- It spent $2.4 million on catering and food. Payments include $1.77 million to Lackmann Culinary Services, $193,661 to Ravioli Fair, and $134,410 at LA Bagel Delight. Mulgrew defended the spending. “We are proud of every nickel we spend on the members,” he said.
