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.
In her latest column appearing in the New York Times, AFT president Randi Weingarten writes about the challenge of making sure more students can earn college degrees at a time when the skyrocketing cost of higher education threatens to put it out of reach for many people. Read the full column.
The challenges the AFT faces demand a different approach to unionism—an approach that is relevant and appropriate to the 21st century, that is creative and visionary, and that unifies the members of our union with those we serve. This is what we call solution-driven unionism. We know that across the AFT, there are many inspiring examples of collective work to improve our workplaces and our communities. That's why we created the Prize for Solution-Driven Unionism: to recognize extraordinary accomplishments that exemplify our mission of providing high-quality public education, healthcare and public services. More Information
After nearly a decade, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' opinion invalidating former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland's layoff of nearly 3,000 Connecticut state employees is a tremendous victory for the right of free speech. In response to a suit filed by Connecticut's State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition, the court held that when a governor punishes people because of the group they belong to—whether it's a union, or a political party, or a religion—he or she violates our Constitution's most cherished provisions. Read more.
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.
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.