UUP’s statewide affiliate NYSUT has elected a new executive vice president and promoted a longtime employee to serve as UUP director of staff.

Executive Vice President Andy Pallotta, a veteran New York City public school educator and United Federation of Teachers (UFT) leader, will head NYSUT’s Legislative and Political Action Department. He was elected by the NYSUT Board of Directors to succeed Alan Lubin, who retired last month after serving more than 16 years in the statewide post.

Pallotta, an art and physical education teacher at PS 32 in the Fordham section of the Bronx, has spent 24 years in the classroom. As the UFT’s District 10 representative since September 2006, Pallotta served extensively in a wide range of negotiating, lobbying, political outreach and community-relations roles.

He also has served as a delegate to UFT, NYSUT and American Federation of Teachers conventions and as a member of the UFT Executive Board.

Meanwhile, NYSUT staffer Martin Coffey was promoted in mid-December to UUP director of staff. He replaces Peter Martineau, who accepted another position in NYSUT.

Coffey served as the union’s associate director of staff since 2006. In his new role, he will assist in managing the administration of the UUP contract and will oversee the 10 labor relations specialists who protect members’ terms and conditions of employment.

Prior to serving as associate director of staff, Coffey spent more than a decade as a labor relations specialist covering several UUP chapters, including Albany, Canton, Central Administration, Cobleskill, Empire State College, the New York State Theatre Institute, Plattsburgh and Potsdam.

— Karen L. Mattison