WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Pictured above, WKBW-TV/Channel 7 Senior Reporter Eileen Buckley (on the left), WNYLaborToday.com Editor-Publisher Tom Campbell (in the middle) and Buffalo Teachers Federation President Phil Rumore (on the right) share memories of Rumore’s 41-year tenure as head of Buffalo’s Public School Teachers Union.  Rumore announced he will retire at the end of June, now having secured a contract proposal from the Buffalo Public School District that Teachers are scheduled to vote on April 21st.   (Photos Courtesy of Eileen Buckley/WKBW-TV)

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – With reports of a contract ratification meeting scheduled for Monday (April 24th) where Buffalo Public School Teachers who have been without an agreement for four years will get their say, that news was overshadowed when it was learned Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) President Phil Rumore - who’s guided the Teachers Union for the past 41 years, will retire effective June 30th.

WNYLaborToday.com spoke with Rumore on Thursday (April 21st) at the Union’s Downtown Buffalo Headquarters, but he declined to go into specifics on either the new contract with the Buffalo School District or his upcoming retirement.

Local media reports the new contract, if ratified by the Union’s 3,800 Teacher Members, would be “historic” - with wage increases of more than 20%, which would put Buffalo Public School Teachers on more of a level playing field when compared to what Suburban Teachers are paid.

Looking back, it was 1981 - the year Rumore was first elected President of the BTF. 

In a letter Rumore sent to Buffalo Teachers, he thanked them “for all you do for our students and each other and also for your support and encouragement through our often difficult times.”

“And for the honor, yes honor, of being your President for over forty years.  While I have at times, thought of retiring, there was always something looming that caused me to reconsider.  Now, as a result of our solidarity, we have a contract proposal through 2025-2026 that I am hopeful will be approved.  Therefore, since I am confident that your future is secure, I will, with heartfelt appreciation, retire at the end of my term on June 30, 2023.  Thank you again, with heartfelt appreciation, for all your support, encouragement and caring.  With love for all,” Rumore wrote.

Rumore was elected to his 21st consecutive two-year term as BTF President in June 2021 (Read WNYLaborToday.com’s Report, Headlined: “Honored” To Be Re-Elected To Represent Buffalo’s Public School Teachers, BTF President Phil Rumore Embarks On His 21st ‘Consecutive’ Two-Year Term, ‘Vowing To Continue The Fight For Both’ Teachers & Schoolchildren At www.wnylabortoday.com/news/2021/06/02/buffalo-and-western-new-york-labor-news/honored-to-be-re-elected-to-represent-buffalo-s-public-school-teachers-btf-president-phil-rumore-embarks-on-his-21st-consecutive-two-year-term-vowing-to-continue-the-fight-for-both-teachers-schoolchildren/).

At that time he told WNYLaborToday.com “honored” to not only receive the support of his Union’s Membership, but vowed to continue the fight to make the lives of both Teachers and the City’s Schoolchildren better in the years to come.

There will be a Union Election held for Rumore’s successor.

Rumore promised to sit down with WNYLaborToday.com after a new contract is in place and before he retires for a look-back story on his amazing career at the helm of the BTF.

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: To Watch WKBW-TV’s Report On Rumore & The BTF, With Comments From WNYLaborToday.com Editor-Publisher Tom Campbell, Go To: Iconic Buffalo Teachers Union Leader Set To Retire (WKBW.com)