News

Weingarten launches new campaign: ‘Real Solutions for Kids and Communities’

Photo of AFT President Randi Weingarten addressing TEACH 2023

The AFT has always been a solutions-driven union, and our new campaign, launched during TEACH on July 21, proves it once again with a fresh, practical approach to strengthening public education. As AFT President Randi Weingarten pointed out during her keynote speech, the $5 million, yearlong campaign, “Real Solutions for Kids and Communities,” stands up against attacks on public schools and offers real-world solutions to build up, rather than break down, our communities.

Randi Weingarten at a Massachusetts high school

Summer is upon us, and parents, children and teachers are winding down from what has been an exhausting and fully operational school year—the first since the devastating pandemic. The long-lasting impact of COVID-19 has affected our students’ and families’ well-being and ignited the politics surrounding public schools. All signs point to the coming school year unfolding with the same sound and fury, and if extremist culture warriors have their way, being even more divisive and stressful.

Just a reminder:

The TRANSFER WINDOW is now open AUGUST 15 - MARCH 15.

ARTICLE 11
VACANCIES
Section One. Posting and Eligibility.
(a) When management decides to fill a newly created position or other
vacancy, and such vacancy has not been filled by administrative transfer,
the opening shall be posted on the school district’s website for seven (7)
days.
In order to be eligible to apply for a posted vacancy, an employee must
meet the following criteria:
(1) The employee has at least three (3) full years (as defined in Article
6, Section 1 of this Agreement) of full-time employment in the
system or the

In AFT President Randi Weingarten’s latest New York Times column, she describes what it is exactly that unions do. Though unions are the most popular they have been in decades, anti-union sentiment still thrives in red states and across the nation. “Several years ago, The Atlantic ran a story whose headline made even me, a labor leader, scratch my head: ‘Union Membership: Very Sexy,’” Weingarten writes in the column. “The gist was that higher wages, health benefits and job security—all associated with union membership—boost one’s chances of getting married. Belonging to a union doesn’t actually guarantee happily ever after, but it does help working people have a better life in the here and now.” Click through to read the full column.

Women in the Labor Movement

This article is about women in the labor movement, which resonates with us as SVFT, AFT-CT, AFT National, and AFL-CIO members.

http://www.thenation.com/article/177880/how-rise-women-labor-could-save-movement

A video clip highlighting the great work being accomplished by the young ladies at the Cheney Tech Welding Department. Another example of how Vo-Tech instructors help their students become career ready in four years.

NBC 30 VIDEO CLIP

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/video/#!/news/sports/Game-of-the-Week-Cheney-Tech-Female-Metal-Workers/228319941

Public Employee Union Member,

While we certainly want to share our warmest wishes for a prosperous 2018 for you and your family, we're also reaching out today with an important heads-up. Late last month, Republican legislative leaders began circulating false claims about the labor cost savings produced by the agreements you and your colleagues ratified last summer.

Lawmakers are scheduled to convene a special session this week to address ongoing budget shortfalls. The likelihood of GOP politicians — who share control of the state Senate — calling for a "re-opener" of the 2017 State Employees