Our National Union celebrated its 100th Anniversary in Minneapolis this summer at the AFT Convention. National union staff members searched the archives for historical information about the union. As part of their efforts, it was discovered that the first local in Utah was chartered on May 9, 1919 under the title The Ogden Federation of Teachers Local #78. After this event, other AFT locals were organized throughout Utah. Dan Golodner, AFT Archivist at the Walter P.

Colleagues,

The NTU met with the district this week to discuss layoffs.  In the district’s initial plan (which has not yet been approved by Civil Service), they will be looking to layoff 23 NTU members in the following positions: 

John M. Abeigon's speech at NPS Advisory Board meeting, April 26, 2016.

The General Assembly adjourned its 2016 legislative session last night at midnight.  Attached is a tentative legislative session summary.  It outlines our wins and losses and probably represents 95% of actions important to AFT Connecticut and its members.  I will be updating this document as needed.

The General Assembly did not adopt a budget before adjournment.  A special session is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, May 12 to adopt a budget.  The negotiated budget between House/Senate Democrats and the Governor has not been printed, but the documents we saw yesterday public services and public servants by more than $800M and could result in a reduction of 4,000-5,000 state employee positions.  It would also slash municipal aid, putting strains on town and board of education budgets. 

Please contact your legislators and the Governor before May 12 and let them know that an austerity budget is not a solution for Connecticut’s budget shortfall. 

Letter to legislators: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/legislators-vote-to-protect-cts-quality-of-life?source=direct_link&

Click here to learn how you can show your support for the students and teachers of Detroit as they face attacks from extreme anti-public-education forces: http://petitions.moveon.org/aft/sign/gov-snyder-veto-the-house

More background is available on this AFT Fact Sheet on Detroit Legislation: http://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/aft-housedps-factsheet_3.pdf

We are proud of our members who staff schools that earned Schools of Promise, High Performing Schools of Honor and High Progress Schools of Honor awards from the Ohio Department of Education. See which schools were named.

Pledge to VOTE

This past April at the 44^th Representative Assembly & Presidents’ Conference, NYSUT rolled out its PLEDGE TO VOTE CAMPAIGN. The purpose of this action plan is to increase NYSUT member voter turnout in Local, State & National Elections. BACKGROUND: In 2014, only 83% of NYSUT members were registered to vote.

APA Executive Board members past and present gathered on Friday, May 6th along with our NYSUT LRS Jim Henck to pay tribute to friend and colleague Jerry Brown as he leaves the Mohawk Valley for his new home in the Rochester area. 

Jerry will be sorely missed.  Having served as founding Treasurer and as Chair of our first Negotiating Team, he has had an indispensable role in bringing our union into existence and ensuring a strong foundation for the future.  We owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for his many contributions, for his generous gift of time and talent.   We wouldn't be where we are without him.

Here, President Kay Chester presents a certificate of appreciation on behalf of us all.

Unions are only as strong as the solidarity they create. They often find their strength in numbers, as they connect different people with different interest to one goal. To that end, members & staff of AFT-Maryland took to the picket line to support their sisters and brothers in labor from the Communication Workers Association (CWA).

Call and tell your Senator to oppose the legislation that attacks Detroit Public Schools. Tell him/her to stand up for legislation that adequately funds Detroit Public Schools to ensure our kids have the schools they deserve, local control is returned to the district and the community, a Detroit Education Commission is in place to bring coordination to educational options in the city, and teachers and school staff have jobs.