NYC CLC, UFT, Building Trades Host “Future in Focus: Exploring the World of Unionized Labor” at Bronx Community College

The NYC CLC, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), and the New York Building & Construction Trades Council (BCTC) last week hosted a Future in Focus: Exploring the World of Organized Labor event at Bronx Community College. This event aims to expose high school students to the NYC Labor Movement and educate them on the many different opportunities in union-represented career fields in our city.

Future in Focus was founded in 2017, when the UFT recognized that discussions about options after high school often don’t include opportunities that exist in addition to higher education, like unionized career paths. Since then, the UFT, NYC CLC, and since 2024, the BCTC have hosted this unique event that brings Union representatives together with high school students to highlight different career trajectories, the access points to them, and the impact of the Union difference.

This year we were joined by approximately 1,000 high school students from over a dozen high schools. Groups travelled from Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx to be able to talk with representatives from 31 New York City Unions. Check out more photos here. Thank you to all who participated!