A city teacher’s union rep who lost a hard-fought race for president says she’s now being harassed by foes — who put her image on laminated cards in union urinals with the message, “Piss on My Face.”
The disgusting cards were discovered strategically placed in the urinals of the men’s room at the United Federation of Teachers’ headquarters at 52 Broadway in Manhattan during a delegate assembly meeting of 400 teachers and other educators last week.
“It shows such a degree of hatred for someone,” said the targeted rep, Amy Arundell, to The Post on Sunday.
“I am not surprised by the harassment,” said Arundell, explaining she became a “pariah” within the union hierarchy after challenging President Michael Mulgrew.
“I found it very difficult to be an outspoken woman in the power structure of the UFT,” she said.
Mariana Pizzitola, president of the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees and a friend of Arundell’s, said, “A depraved human being placed these laminated photos in the men’s urinals, and when a colleague removed them — they were later replaced!
“Michael Mulgrew, president of the UFT, has created such a hostile work environment against women that someone thought nothing of carrying out this vile act in the actual union headquarters where Amy works,” Pizzitola said.
Mulgrew strongly condemned the incident and said the UFT has hired an outside law firm to try to root out the culprit.
While Arundell said she does not believe Mulgrew was personally behind the harassment, she said, “Every leader is responsible for the culture of his work place.”
Arundell filed a harassment complaint with the NYPD’s First Precinct over the cards.
“This is disgusting,” a UFT retired teacher told The Post of the incident. “Whoever did this is an idiot.”
Mulgrew, president of the union since 2009, defeated Arundell, formerly an ally in his UFT Unity Caucus, and another opponent, Olivia Swisher, to retain his top post earlier this month.
Mulgrew and his Unity Caucus won 54% of the vote. The ABC [A Better Contract] Caucus, led by Arundell, won 32% of the vote. The ARISE [Alliance of Retired and In-Service Educators] Caucus, led by Swisher, won 14%.
“This is a clear case of sexual harassment, workplace bullying, and psychological abuse,” said Kate Anskat, a UFT member who wrote about the incident in a Substack column with the headline, “Misogyny at the UFT Assembly.”
“Let’s not forget that Amy works in that building. Her office is at 52 Broadway. This didn’t just happen in some distant venue, it happened in her workplace,” Anskat said.
“How can any woman be expected to return to work in a building where her photo was placed in a urinal, where no one knows yet who did it. … This isn’t just an attack, it has created a toxic, hostile work environment. If we’re serious about protecting our members, especially women, then that has to matter.”
Anskat noted that 75% of UFT members are women.
“This kind of behavior doesn’t just offend, it sends a message. A very clear one. That if you are a woman who speaks up, if you run for something, if you lead, this is what you can expect in return. To be humiliated. To be reduced. To be silenced,” she said.
Mulgrew, in a letter to UFT delegates and staff, said he takes the harassment seriously and has hired legal investigators. A source said the hired firm is Thompson Coburn.
“I have been made aware of offensive and inexcusable behavior that took place during the June 11 Delegate Assembly,” Mulgrew said in his letter. “Immediately upon learning this information, the union hired outside counsel to conduct a thorough, fair and targeted investigation to identify the individual(s) who engaged in this misconduct. Anyone found to have participated in this act will be held accountable.
“Let me be clear: This must stop. Actions intended to demean, intimidate or target others have no place in our union or any professional environment. This is not who we are, and it cannot be who we become. Each of us has a responsibility to contribute to an environment where everyone feels safe, valued and respected.
“Now, as unions across the country are under attack, we need to be united and move forward together,” the UFT chief said.
Sources who know Mulgrew well insisted he wouldn’t engage in or condone such crude harassment.
Mulgrew is a close ally of his predecessor, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, and has worked closely with female staff and educators in the nation’s largest public school system for decades.
The UFT is the largest chapter of the AFT, and Weingarten still has strong ties and influence with the city local she once headed.
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