News

July 2, 2015 | Washington News Service | Chris Thomas, Producer

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Gov. Jay Inslee calls the operating budget he signed into law this week "forward-thinking, responsible and fair."

Most Washingtonians would add, '...and a long time coming,' after multiple special sessions and votes that aren't quite over.

Bernal Baca is the government affairs director for American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Washington, the union that represents some faculty members and support staff in public schools and colleges. He says late Tuesday night, the feeling of relief in Olympia was palpable. [read full article]

June 22, 2015 | Katherine Long, Seattle Times Higher Education Reporter 

Classes have ended for the academic year at Green River College in Auburn, but there's no end in sight to a dispute between the faculty union and the college’s administration, which have been at odds over a contract for more than a year. [read full article]

I didn’t want to write this.

I wanted someone else to instead – someone who is wealthy and would actually pay a capital gains tax.

So I went through my contacts and called 10 or so friends and acquaintances who I thought made enough income from investments that the capital gains tax would apply to them.

Because it’s the most important conversation happening in Olympia right now, as the Senate Republicans, House Democrats and Gov. Jay Inslee negotiate a state budget that funds public schools. Should we raise taxes on average people or ask a wealthy 0.4 percent of Washingtonians to pay their fair share for our schools? [read full article]

Washington News Service | February 6, 2015 | Chris Thomas, Producer

OLYMPIA, Wash. - A coalition is making some noise about  to direct two-thirds of all new state revenue to education. According to the group Washington United for Fair Revenue, it seems like a noble goal but would restrict lawmakers' ability to fund other important priorities. [read full story]

9-3-14 | The Washington State Supreme Court held a hearing to determine if the State should be held in contempt for failing to meeting a 2012 court order to fulfill the state constitution which requires fully funding basic education. Read more.

May 16, 2014 | Washington News Service | Chris Thomas, Producer

SEATTLE – It's more than a chance to pick up a couple of free books this weekend at the Seattle Center. At a First Book Resource Fair on Saturday, families can learn more about 20 local community groups, from the arts to social services.

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Washington partnered with the national nonprofit group First Book to organize the event.- Read or hear the full story here. 

Please join us at a family-friendly book give-away and resource fair on Saturday, May 17th, at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall with our community partners to provide free books to children through AFT's partnership with the nationally-recognized First Book. First Book offers new books to kids in need to promote reading and literacy to help them succeed in school and life. We will have Caldecott and Newberry Medal award-winning books in several languages and for all cultures and ages.

Map of Seattle Center Grounds
Exhibition Hall entry is on Mercer Street near McCaw Hall.

Public Transportation

Mar. 20, 2014 | Washington News Service | Chris Thomas, Producer

SEATTLE – Seattle Community College has become the fourth community or technical college in the state where employees in a variety of administrative roles have decided to bargain collectively for their wages and benefits. They'll be part of AFT Washington, after a vote last week to form a union. [more]

Feb. 26, 2014 | Washington News Service | Chris Thomas, Producer

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Gov. Jay Inslee today is to sign Washington's version of the "Dream Act." It's another step in years of effort by children of immigrant families to gain access to higher education - and it could make the difference for some as to whether college is even an option. . . . Baca, now a lobbyist for the education union AFT Washington, said immigrant students still don't qualify for the federally funded Pell Grants for higher education, which makes state-level opportunities even more important. [read or hear audio of