News & Updates

Students, teachers, and school staff members from all around the nation convened at the Student Violence Summit in Washington D.C. October 19-21 to create and ratify a Students’ Bill of Rights that addresses gun violence and safer schools and communities. This Bill aims to protect students, teachers and their communities and prevent gun violence by… Continue reading Students’ Bill of Rights for Safer Communities

10/22/2018, 02:09pm In this 2016 photo, teachers and staff from United Neighborhood Organization Charter School Network demand a fair contract. Charter educators citywide will take a strike authorization vote this week. | Santiago Covarrubias | Sun-Times Jesse Sharkey   Chicago Teachers Union charter educators have been presenting their demands this fall for educational equity directly… Continue reading Chicago Sun-Times: “Why charter school teachers are preparing for a historic strike vote”

A Decade of Neglect “A Decade of Neglect: Public Education Funding in the Aftermath of the Great Recession,” details the devastating impact on schools, classrooms and students when states choose to pursue an austerity agenda in the false belief that tax cuts will pay for themselves. The comprehensive report offers a deep dive into the… Continue reading AFT: “A Decade of Neglect”

Firm misled borrowers about loan forgiveness to line pockets October 3, 2018 A class-action suit filed in federal court sets out serious allegations that student loan servicer Navient has misled borrowers in public service professions from accessing a loan forgiveness program to boost its own profits. The landmark complaint, which seeks millions in damages and class-wide… Continue reading AFT on Student Debt: “AFT members are taking Navient to court”

Oct. 3, 2018 The labor movement supports members of the Boilermakers (IBB) working at Imerys Talc in Three Forks, Montana, who have been unfairly locked out while fighting against an anti-worker contract proposal. These hardworking Americans and their families have been without a paycheck or employer-provided health insurance for 62 days. The Three Forks plant… Continue reading AFL-CIO: “Support Locked-Out Boilermakers in Montana”

Oct. 2, 2018 Weeks after more than 8,300 UNITE HERE members at Marriott hotels across the country voted to authorize strikes, management has still failed to resolve key contract issues, including workplace safety, job protections and a living wage. Ready to fight for their fundamental economic rights, workers are prepared to walk out without notice… Continue reading AFL-CIO: “One Job Should Be Enough”

Too good to be true? When student debt disappears Kevin Maier can’t believe how lucky he is. “I always thought this would never really happen,” he says. After 10 years of payments and employment in public service, his student loans were forgiven. No more monthly payments. No more interest. When the government’s public service loan… Continue reading AFT: “Too good to be true? When student debt disappears”

Opinion Public Service Debt Relief Is Broken The program that’s supposed to help teachers and others with their loans isn’t working. By Randi Weingarten Ms. Weingarten is the president of the American Federation of Teachers. Sept. 27, 2018 Sophia Foster-Dimino This summer, student debt reached a record $1.5 trillion in the United States. To put… Continue reading NYT: “Public Service Debt Relief Is Broken”

Equality at United Sept. 28, 2018 After persistent resistance from management, nearly 2,700 workers in United Airlines’ five catering kitchens are exercising their right to organize with UNITE HERE. Coming months after 76% of eligible catering employees filed for a union election with the National Mediation Board, the vote is currently being held until Oct. 23. Spanning… Continue reading AFL-CIO: “Equality at United”