TEACHERS' FAVORITE

Randi Weingarten

United Federation of Teachers

The president of the United Federation of Teachers commands an army of 160,000 active and retired New York City teachers and other education professionals. To get what she wants, Randi Weingarten uses a tireless advocacy, loud voice and deft skill for crafting partnerships with city officials.

Since 2002, the UFT has raised salaries for union-represented employees by 43%. "We must continue to debate how to bring teachers the respect they deserve," she says.

While trying to gain greater stewardship of schools for educators and parents, Ms. Weingarten continues to lobby for fair wages and better conditions for teachers. "Our salaries were not competitive with those in the suburbs," she says.

Before taking the helm, Ms. Weingarten, 49, spent 12 years as a lead contract negotiator for UFT. She is also vice president of the 1.4 million-member American Federation of Teachers and is ready to assume broader responsibility there, saying, "I would accept the role of president of the AFT if asked."

One of the city's most powerful union forces, Ms. Weingarten serves as vice president of the New York City Central Labor Council and head of the Municipal Labor Committee.

- Tina Traster