AFT Washington, AFL-CIO

Celebrate Pride!

We seek freedom for all – freedom from fear, from threat, from hiding; and freedom to live life fully, to explore and pursue dreams, to love fully, and perhaps most of all, to love oneself wholeheartedly.

Powerful Locals Is Coming!

Registration for Powerful Locals is now open!

Get involved with advocacy work!

Contact Richard Burton at rburton AT aftwa.org to get involved!

Convention Updates: Resolutions, Bylaws and Standing Rules, and the Keynote Conversation!

Updates from the 2023 Convention

All the 2023 Convention updates (and the keynote conversation!) are here.

In defense of public education

Randi Weingarten and NYC teacher Tamara Simpson

Attacks on public education in America by extremists and culture-war peddling politicians have reached new heights (“lows” may be more apt), but they are not new. The difference today is that the attacks are intended not just to undermine public education but to destroy it.

August 31, 2018

Washington News Service | Eric Tegethoff, Producer

Tacoma, WA - A low-paid group of educators known as paraeducators (or "paras") say it's time they received livable wages. Paras assist teachers in the classroom, often working with students with disabilities and in the special education department. Comments from Barbara Randall-Saleh ("suh-LEE"), president, Tacoma Federation of Paraeducators. [more]

AFT Washington on Recent School Strikes

For release: August 30, 2018

Tukwila -- AFT Washington stands in solidarity with the K-12 public school strikes and our sisters and brothers from the Washington Education Association in their efforts to get a fair contract.

Karen Strickland, president of AFT Washington, said “This is about respect and building the middle class. For decades teachers and school-support employees, whether in K-12 or higher education, have been undervalued and underpaid for their work. Educators should earn enough to have economic security and take care of their families.”

When we stand together, we have power in numbers. That power allows for us to bargain a good contract that includes decent pay, health care, retirement security, and better working conditions. It gives us a seat at the table with our employer to negotiate for things that improve our job and allow us to better serve our communities. Interested in joining? Contact your local to become a member!

Not sure who to talk to at your local? Contact Cortney Marabetta at cmarabetta@aftwa.org for help.

Past Issues

COPE: Building Our Union's Power, Building a Better Future

COPE - our Committee on Political Education -- is the political action committee for AFT Washington. COPE enables our union to engage the membership in both creating our political agenda and in making meaningful financial contributions to support candidates who will champion our legislative agenda. We do not use union dues to contribute to COPE. All contributions are voluntary.