Unions and the community are 'a natural coalition'
Solution-driven unionism may have been the overarching theme of the 2013 joint conference of the AFT Healthcare and AFT Public Employees divisions, but the importance of community engagement was the biggest takeaway message for the 450 AFT members and guests who gathered in Baltimore, April 25-27. Read more.
Healing Our Healthcare System
In her latest column appearing in the New York Times, AFT president Randi Weingarten talks about the accomplishments to date of the Affordable Care Act, even in its early stages. And she discusses the vital role that nurses and healthcare workers—the AFT is one of the largest unions of nurses in the country—play in enhancing patient care and improving the healthcare system. Read Weingarten's column.
National Federation of Nurses to affiliate with the AFT
The leaders of two labor organizations representing healthcare professionals announced on Feb. 14 that they have approved an affiliation agreement that will bring 34,000 registered nurses into the AFT, the largest union of professionals in the AFL-CIO.
A Great Opportunity for the Land of Opportunity
In her most recent column appearing in the New York Times, “A Great Opportunity for the Land of Opportunity,” AFT President Randi Weingarten calls for the swift passage of commonsense, compassionate, comprehensive immigration reform. “Whether it’s the realization that a nation made great by immigrants has a moral imperative to live up to our American values of democracy and opportunity, or because it’s sound economic policy, or because it’s just the right thing to do for hardworking families,” she says, “reforming our immigration system makes sense.” Read Weingarten's column.
From Grief to Action
Gun violence is a tragic, pervasive part of American life. Assassins’ bullets have felled presidents and national icons. Americans are 20 times more likely to be killed by a gun than residents of other developed countries. Even those who had grown numb to the everyday carnage were shaken last month by the unthinkable murder of the most innocent of innocents—young children in their classrooms. In the weeks since the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., more than 900 people in the United States have died from gun violence. This must end. Read Weingarten's column.
Statement from AFT Connecticut President Melodie Peters on the school shooting in Newtown
We are deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire community in the wake of this terrible tragedy. We will be working closely to help the students, teachers, administrators and their families in Newtown as they recover from this tragedy.
We credit the teachers, staff and administrators for reacting immediately to protect the children.
Our thanks go out to all of their first responders for their effort to ensure the safety of all the students and staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
We will be coordinating grief counseling and support services with our locals the Newtown Federation of Teachers, Local 1727 and the Newtown Federation of Custodians, Local 3924, the Newtown Federation of Education Personnel, Local 3785, along with the State of Connecticut, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the National Education Association (NEA) and the Connecticut Education Association (CEA).
You can click here to leave a message of condolences and support for the students, staff, teachers and families of Newtown, CT.