Monday, Feb. 15 (Presidents' Day), at 12 Noon in Olympia

Come and join THOUSANDS OF SCHOOL AND COLLEGE EMPLOYEES, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, FAMILIES, health care workers, environmentalists, and other members of progressive movements from around the state on Presidents' Day, Monday, Feb. 15, at 12 Noon on the Capitol steps. (more details)

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Dealing With Today's Crisis: The tools to meet the needs of students, schools, and co-workers

Saturday, February, 27, 2010, 8 am - 2 pm
Giaudrone Middle School, 4902 So. Alaska St., Tacoma (near Tacoma Mall)

Door Prizes! Lunch! STARS Training Credits! Inservice Pay for TFP Paraeducators!

For early childhood educators, K-12 classified and paraeducators, and higher ed classified members

To register, go to: http://tinyurl.com/ydhopoy

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The 2010 legislative session is the second year of the state's two-year budget cycle. Considered a "short" session, it begins January 11 and is scheduled to end March 11, 2010. The state will be grappling with a $2.7 billion budget deficit for 2010.

AFT Washington is spearheading a number of collective actions during the session to help protect quality education -- from early learning through college -- from more budget cuts. It is critical that local members get involved in the mobilization effort. Together, we can make our voices heard.

The following links provide information on legislative actions that we are organizing, such as a petition drive, "Rolling Lobby Days," letter-writing, and other collective actions. If you have any questions, please contact Richard Burton, AFT Washington Political Organizer, at rburton@aftwa.org or 206-225-0621.

2010 Legislative Mobilization Plan (A summary of the six components of our plan.)

Petition Action Plan (begins Monday, Jan. 4, 2010, and ends Friday, Jan. 29)

Tips for Having a Successful Petition Drive At Your Local

 

The following links provide tools you can use for contacts with legislators:

Sample Letter to Legislators About Higher Ed Budget Cuts

Sample Letter to Legislators About Budget Cuts to K-12 Schools

Talking Points on AFT Washington-sponsored Legislation

Sample letters to the editor (coming soon!)

By Amy Kinsel, Professor of History, Shoreline Community College

The cruel irony of last year’s legislative session is that Washington State deeply cut funding to higher education just as enrollment skyrocketed.  As unemployment grew last year, many Washingtonians decided to enter or return to college, only to find that they were being asked to pay more for less. (read full article)

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Starting in late January, AFT members across the country will start receiving their new AFT membership cards in the mail. Once you receive your card—the entire mailing is scheduled to be completed by late February—you will want to validate it on the members section of the new AFT Web site. That will give you not only access to exclusive members-only discounts on retail shopping, entertainment, travel, magazine subscriptions, mortgage services and insurance, but also the chance to win prizes, including $500.

Reflecting on the importance of education to "lift us up in life," U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) in his column in the current issue of the Baltimore Afro-American praises AFT executive vice president Lorretta Johnson as a heroine in the field.

 

WSLC Reports Today
Almost daily reports from the Washington State Labor Council includes legislative, local, and national news.

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1-866-99-AFTWA or 1-866-992-3892

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