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A new national TV ad campaign launched on Labor Day highlights the critical issues facing America's struggling middle class. The ads—produced by American Rights at Work—are part of a coordinated effort among labor unions, workers' rights advocates and other groups to build on broad public support for the Employee Free Choice Act as a way to help create better jobs. Get more information and sign the online petition.
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West Virginia's independent union of more than 7,800 school service personnel has affiliated with the AFT and AFT-West Virginia. The two state organizations together represent about 15,000 workers, and, if approved by AFT's executive council in September, the agreement will make the AFT the largest union in West Virginia.
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Delegates to the 2008 AFT convention elected a new slate of national officers on July 14 in Chicago, voting to install Randi Weingarten as president, Antonia Cortese as secretary-treasurer and Lorretta Johnson as executive vice president.
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News from the Center for the Child Care Workforce with links to their reports and website.
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Worthy Wage Day, a national day of action, held annually since 1991, was held on May 1, 2008 in an ongoing grassroots campaign on behalf of the early childhood education workforce. On this day, attention was called to the importance of early childhood education and the dedication of the workforce that cares for our community’s youngest citizens. Members of the U.S. Congress heard from early childhood educators about the state of the early childhood education workforce including low wages, lack of benefits and high turnover. WEEL/AFT-WEA member Lauren Tozzi was part of this congressional briefing. Around the state of Washington, WEEL/AFT-WEA members and organizers also helped bring attention to Worthy Wage Day.
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On May 1, 2008 -- Worthy Wage Day -- WEEL/AFT-WEA presented Washington State Representative Eric Pettigrew a Children's Champion Award for his commitment to ensuring good early learning environments for children and good working environments for the adults responsible for their care amd education. The award was presented by Angie Maxie, director of Tiny Tots Development Center in Seattle. Parents, children, and WEEL/AFT-WEA staff were onhand to congratulate Representative Pettigrew and to thank him for his continued support.
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On March 6, 2008 early learning workers rallied for improvement in our field. WEEL/AFT-WEA members joined with SEIU Local 925 members to specifically ask why YMCA wanted to stop 10,000 teachers and directors from voting on whether to form a union.
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Would you like the opportunity to become a Child Care Assistant/Associate I, Child Care Site Coordinator/Associate II, or an Educational Paraprofessional? Or would you like the chance to bring apprenticeship to your center? The Washington State Early Care and Education Apprenticeship Program can assist you in meeting your goal. Find out how credit for previous experience, on-the-job training, and classroom study can help you or your employees obtain journeyperson status in the field!
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Over a period of just seven weeks, from Jan. 14-March 3, a total of 26,419 people took the online 2008 Health Care for America Survey sponsored by the AFL-CIO and Working America. Most are insured and employed. Most are college graduates. More than half are union members.
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More than 20,000 paraprofessionals and school-related personnel represented by the Oregon School Employees Association have voted to affiliate with the AFT, marking the largest affiliation of an independent union in AFT history.
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Every year the state legislature passes laws that have a tremendous impact on your salary, health care, retirement benefits, academic freedoms, and much more. Want to find out about what's going on? Sign up for our GetActive email!
When you sign up, you will also receive the AFT Washington Legisletter at your personal or home address. |
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We have had some wonderful trainings in our area, including Vancouver and the Kelso/Longview area. Pizza parties and meetings in the park are planned, so be sure to read this article about the SW Washington area.
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Learn about a great new resource from the Office of Head Start!
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To all of You, a beautiful poem by Organizer and Teacher Christy Halbert from the Spokane area.
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Spokesman-Review | 3/6/08, Groups push to unionize day care
Richard Roesler, Staff Writer OLYMPIA - When Spokane's Christine Halbert took her first child care job a decade ago, her training consisted of being shown the room and left alone with the kids.The pay? Minimum wage. [read the full article in print view]
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Are you interested in becoming a registered early learning apprentice so that you can EARN while you LEARN? Discover how the Washington Early Care and Education Apprenticeship Program combines on-the-job training with theoretical instruction to produce certified child care specialists and educational paraprofessionals.
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SB 6522/HB 2449, providing collective bargaining for child care center directors and workers, is being considered by the state Legislature. To find out more information, click on the headline for a FACT SHEET about this legislation.
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WEEL/AFT-WEA and SEIU members, supporters, children, and staff met in Olympia on January 21, 2008 to march and meet with legislators in a show of support for upcoming early education legislation. Click the article title to view photos of this successful event! |
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State Representative Eric Pettigrew recently met with Robert and Tracey Delgardo, owners of Toddler Tech Day Care Center at their site. |
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You know you've lived a good, long while when the branches of your life circle back to tap you on the shoulder. And you know you've lived a good life filled with good people when the branches that are tip, tap, tapping your shoulders are full of love and fond memories. |
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Early learning staff seek to establish an all-inclusive, statewide Association with bargaining rights to represent their interests with the State, raise standards and improve the quality of early learning and care. |
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Monitor Washington State legislative committee meetings and agendas for the coming legislative session. |
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If your membership has expired, it is time to renew!
This is an exciting time in the field of early learning. Because people like you saw value in becoming a member of the Child Care Workforce Alliance of Washington, we have grown in numbers and clout. At a leadership retreat in June your colleagues chose a new name that more accurately reflects the important work in which you are involved: Washington Educators in Early Learning (WEEL). Because of your support, we have come this far, and we need your continuing support to succeed. Click on the link above for a more in-depth article and a link to a renewal application. |
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Find out how WEEL staff and leaders met with their U.S. Representatives and Senators. You too can meet with your representative to voice your concerns about early learning, the value of working with children, and support for early learning educators' needs for higher wages, benefits, and educational opportunities. |
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Welcome to the website of Washington Educators in Early Learning (formerly called Child Care Workforce Alliance of Washington), a project of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the Center for the Childcare Workforce.
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Join WEEL
When you join WEEL, you become part of the campaign for:
Membership in the Washington Educators in Early Learning makes you a part of a growing movement to guarantee early care and educational professionals get the better wages, benefits, and respect they deserve. |
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Get STARS continuing education credit for professional development through WEEL, a STARS-certified training organization.
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