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.
Drowning in Debt to Get a Degree
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.
AFT announces $25,000 Prize for Solution-Driven Unionism
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
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.