At a United Federation of Teachers meeting, an offensive incident occurred when a laminated photo of female union representative Amy Arundel was found in a men’s urinal, accompanied by the phrase “Piss on your face!” This prompted UFT President Mike Mulgrew to announce an investigation into the matter.
However, months later, the union stated that the investigation hasn’t led to uncovering the individuals responsible, leading many to accuse the UFT of a cover-up.
Elizabeth DiMichel, an attorney assigned to the case, reported in an email dated October 8 that identifying the culprit proved impossible, as she prepared her final findings.
Arundel and her advocates criticized the investigation, suggesting it was more about protecting the offenders than revealing their identities. Arundel commented, “The investigation lacked transparency and urgency. It felt controlled from the top down, with information being managed rather than actively sought out.”
The troubling display took place on June 11, shortly following Arundel’s unsuccessful attempt to unseat Mulgrew, while she had served the Department of Education for 34 years and acted as a union representative for 21 years.
Mulgrew condemned the vandalism publicly, but shortly thereafter, he dismissed Arundel from her $270,000 annual role in the union and terminated six others.
Arundel expressed her disappointment, stating, “UFT was founded on the principles of collective strength and democratic values. Instead, I see an increasingly authoritarian culture that prioritizes loyalty to leadership over honesty, leading to the silencing of those who voice concerns.”
Meanwhile, UFT’s general counsel, Beth Norton, allocated member dues to retain DiMichel to investigate the event. Norton and DiMichel had previously worked together on legal cases and collaborated on recommendations regarding sexual harassment prevention. DiMichel even contributed to a fundraiser for Norton’s birthday on Facebook.
Arundel remarked on their apparent personal connection, saying, “They’re obviously friends.”
DiMichel reported that while possible witnesses were noted, the actual perpetrator remained unidentified, according to an internal report referred to as “Pisgate.”
Notably, seven hours of video captured near the men’s restroom showed a “person of interest” behaving unusually, but this footage was only shared with select anonymous individuals and notably excluded Arundel.
A Queens teacher, Katie Anscutt, who was one of the first to raise concerns about harassment, expressed frustration, stating, “If they were truly serious about finding out who was responsible, they should have started with those who were present. But that never took place.”
Anscutt added that she initially hoped for accountability and a thorough investigation but was met with silence and a lack of urgency regarding such a serious issue.
The UFT has not provided responses to inquiries, with a spokesperson stating, “The union does not comment on personnel matters.”
