Pulling Strings on New Year’s Eve
Marianne Pizzitola’s Attempt to Control UFT Democracy
On December 31, while many of us were preparing to ring in the New Year, Marianne Lynda Carter Pizzitola (Let’s be clear, she is no Wonder Woman) took to her Facebook page to chastise UFT members for organizing a slate beyond her control. In response to the January 1, 2025, UFT Retired Educators newsletter, Marianne posted a scathing critique targeting the Retiree Advocate (RA) organizing committee for aligning with ARISE—a new coalition of educators dedicated to transparency and member-led representation.
Her post reads:
"The 11-member RA organizing committee that comprises Retiree Advocate has been invited to join a non-partisan, bread-and-butter slate made up of all UFT members, no matter their own personal views, to oust those like Mulgrew and Unity who have sold off retiree benefits for personal gain.
Currently, their choice to align with ‘ARISE’ doesn’t reflect our priorities.
At NYC Retirees, we’ve made it our mission to include all—whether center, left, right, or apolitical—as long as the sole focus is the issues that matter to us all.
Our focus must be to support those centered around preserving traditional Medicare and our health and pension/retiree benefits—not those with ideological agendas.
The RA organizing committee should align itself with a member-led, member-focused slate and not with a caucus-first group fixated on divisive ideological issues."
This statement is a striking example of Pizzitola’s strategy: demanding absolute loyalty while framing dissent as harmful. Like Japan’s manipulation of Manchukuo, Marianne seeks to position herself as the unseen puppeteer, crafting the illusion of a unified movement while controlling every aspect behind the scenes.
Who Will Be Her Puppet Emperor?
In Manchukuo, Japan solidified its control by installing Emperor Puyi, a figurehead with no real power who served as a puppet for their agenda. The question for UFT members is: Who does ABC plan to install as Marianne’s puppet emperor? Who will they prop up to enact her vision, with no regard for the union, its members, or the democratic process?
Make no mistake: Marianne Pizzitola is not a UFT member. She has paid no dues, has no stake in our elections, and no legitimate right to influence the future of our union. Worse, since starting her nonprofit, she may have amassed millions of dollars by grifting retirees on fixed incomes—taking their hard-earned money through coerced donations while claiming to fight for their rights, and publicly bullying those who question her on her organizations website with a countdown clock. In my humble opinion, her actions seem to make it clear: this is not about empowering members; it is about consolidating her own power and wealth without question.
The Choice Is Clear
We, as UFT members, must reject this hostile takeover. Marianne’s attempts to turn the UFT into a puppet state for her personal agenda are a threat to our collective rights, our representation, and the integrity of our union.
That is why I will stand with, and vote for, the UNITY slate this election season. I will never cede my union rights to an outsider's hostile takeover. The UFT is strongest when it is led by dues-paying members who are directly invested in its future, not manipulated by someone who profits at the expense of retirees and educators.
The choice is clear. Reject Marianne Pizzitola, reject her puppet state, and stand with UNITY to ensure that our union remains strong, democratic, and member-led. Together, we can protect our union and its future.