It was Portalatin who started the movement to organize paraprofessionals for the United Federation of Teachers in New York City. “Portalatin’s energetic leadership and effective organizing have helped to grow more paraprofessionals in New York City than teachers in some cities,” said AFT president Edward J. McElroy, who presented the award at the convention’s women’s rights breakfast.

Portalatin, who recently retired for health reasons from her role as chair of the UFT paraprofessionals chapter and as an AFT vice president, said the union has provided her with respect, dignity and a decent standard of living. “I encourage women, now more than ever, to work toward a common goal in order to defeat those who seek to destroy us. To do that we must organize, organize, organize. Become a part of the labor union and get involved in the political process. The union card and the ballot box are the keys to our success.”

Five AFT members were presented with the diamond recognition award for 50 years of labor service at the breakfast: Sabina Brown, Herricks (N.Y.) Teachers Association; Maryann Karlovsky, West Suburban (Ill.) Teachers Union; Ethel McClatchey, Los Angeles College Faculty Guild; Phyllis Pacheco, Central Islip (N.Y.) Teachers Association; and Bonnie Tompkins, United Teachers Los Angeles.