Union Embraces Open Source to Enhance Services and Save Costs

The United Federation of Teachers (UFT), a union representing teachers in New York City, has shifted from using paper forms to Web services and online transactions to deliver services and information to its members. The union continues to expand its membership, with 6,000 new teachers joining each year. To manage costs while improving services, the UFT implemented a comprehensive open source solution, leveraging multi-processor rack-mounted ProLiant DL servers from Hewlett-Packard (HP), running Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system (OS), alongside an IBM iSeries and Microsoft Office suite.

Key Takeaways:

• The UFT has successfully migrated from paper forms to web services and online transactions, improving services to its members.
• The union continues to grow, with 6,000 new teachers joining each year, totaling an increasing number of members.
• The UFT implemented a comprehensive open source solution, utilizing a combination of HP ProLiant DL servers running Red Hat Enterprise Linux and IBM iSeries.
• Microsoft software is limited to the Microsoft Office suite and a single legacy Exchange Server for email.
• Feedster, another organization, utilizes open source, particularly Linux, to achieve significant cost savings and enable the company's growth and success.

Statistics:

• 6,000 new teachers join the UFT each year.
• The UFT implemented a comprehensive open source solution.
• The solution includes HP ProLiant DL servers.
• The Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system is utilized.
• The IBM iSeries is also part of the solution.
• The Microsoft Office suite and a single legacy Exchange Server are the only Microsoft software used.

Sources:

• Joel A spokesman for the United Federation of Teachers (UFT)
• Joe Vigilante, UFT director of information services
• Feedster's spokesman