Press

American Federation of Teachers Washington on Governor Inslee’s Proposed Budget

For release: December 14, 2018

Tukwila, WA -- AFT Washington supports Governor Inslee’s budget proposal for the 2019 budget year.

Karen Strickland, president of AFT Washington said, “We are very pleased with the revenue proposals that help to balance our regressive tax system and raise much-needed revenue. The Governor’s budget funds several important investments ranging from behavioral healthcare to the environment to healthcare. While we appreciate the investments in education that he proposes, this budget falls short on investments in Community and Technical College employees, who earn well below market rate salaries, of whom too many are adjunct faculty and of whom too few are counselors.”

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.”

Media Release: Members Remain United as Supreme Court Sides with Wealthy, Anti-Union Interests Against Public Workers

June 27, 2018

Tukwila, WA -- Today the U.S. Supreme Court announced their decision on the Janus v. AFSCME lawsuit and, not surprisingly, their decision is anti-union and a momentary triumph for wealthy special interests like the Koch Brothers, the Walton Family who owns WalMart, and our own state’s Freedom Foundation which backed this case.

March 30, 2018

Olympia - EHB 1237, modifies the existing collective bargaining law to authorize local funds (tuition, fees, etc.) for compensation to faculty at community and technical colleges.

Unions Standing Strong in Face of Big Supreme Court Case

February 26, 2018 | Washington News Service | Eric Tegethoff, Producer

SEATTLE – The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing a case Monday that has big implications for unions.

In Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), justices will decide whether employees represented by public unions have to pay so-called fair share fees if they do not want to be members.

Read entire story and audio here.

Statement by Randi Weingarten on AFT Amicus Brief Filed in Janus Supreme Court Case

On Friday, January 19, AFT filed an Amicus Brief in support of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) that lays out an argument citing the role of collective bargaining in improving public sector workplaces, repudiating plaintiff’s constitutionally flawed warping and weaponizing of the First Amendment. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear the case in February and make a decision by June. [read more]

We Lose, Wealthiest Win in GOP Tax Reform Bill

Statement by Karen Strickland, President
American Federation of Teachers Washington

December 20, 2017

Today Congress passed a devastating tax plan in which 83 percent of the benefits will go to the top 1% percent by 2027, and where Americans earning less than $75,000 a year will be paying more so tax cuts can go to the wealthiest, big corporations, and foreign investors.

This is greed pure and simple. President Trump and members of Congress passed a bill that will benefit their coffers at the expense of our communities and working families. This unpopular bill was not supported by the majority of Americans and independent economists’ analyses found the middle-class will be hurt. [cont'd]

Statement on GOP's Higher Ed Reauthorization

Dec. 1, 2017

AFT President Randi Weingarten and United University Professions President Frederick Kowal issued a statement today condemning House Republicans’ plan to reauthorize the Higher Education Act. According to the statement, “This is not how we, as a nation, should reauthorize crucial civil rights legislation. We will fight it tooth and nail, and we will work with responsible members of Congress to design a real bill that puts students first, not unaccountable for-profit corporations.” [read the full statement].

Related article, GOP Begins Rewrite of Federal Aid Law, Insider Higher Education, 11/30/17

House GOP Passes Tax Bill Devastating to Working Families | Statement by Karen Strickland, President

November 16, 2017

Statement by AFT Washington President on
Tax Reform Bill Passed Today by U.S. House

Tukwila, WA -- The Republican-controlled House has once again demonstrated its firm determination to worsen the economic stability of our members and their families. All four of our GOP congressmembers — U.S. Representatives Reichert, Herrera Beutler, Newhouse, and McMorris Rodgers — voted along party lines to pass the House tax reform bill.

Testimony on Rollback of Title IX Sexual Assault Protection to U.S. Dept. of Education

Testimony of Karen Strickland, AFT Washington President, on Title IX Regulations at a U.S. Department of Education Hearing, Oct. 2017

For decades women and allies have fought to end sexual assault. In spite of the courageous testimony from many survivors, legislative advocacy to protect the rights of survivors, increased enforcement of laws against sexual assault and efforts to raise awareness and educate the public, we continue to live in a country in which it is estimated that 20% of women and 6% of men will be sexually assaulted while at college.