One of New York's largest labor unions elects new president

Shannon Sweeney

Apr 11, 2017

Andrew Pallotta is the new president of New York State United Teachers.

Pallotta, a former elementary school teacher in the Bronx, was elected to a three-year term. He previously served as NYSUT executive vice president and oversaw the union's legislative and political action program.

Pallotta's election comes at a time when education is at the forefront of national conversations following Betsy DeVos' confirmation as education secretary in February.

He is replacing Karen E. Magee, who decided not to seek a second term. Recently, Magee discussed NYSUT's opposition to DeVos, including DeVos's push for charter school expansion in her home state of Michigan and her lack of experience in public education.

NYSUT ranked No. 2 on this year's Albany Business Review Labor Unions List. It has more than 630,000 members.