A Safety First sign on the Green River College Campus. Photo credit: Dave Norberg
This spring, faculty in the Green River College welding program were repeatedly subjected to harassment, hate speech, and overt threats of violence from a student. Established processes failed to address the situation effectively, and the welding faculty were informed they had to work with and support the student’s return to the classroom. Green River faculty launched an email campaign demanding the College prioritize the safety and well-being of faculty. AFT Washington printed signs demanding “Safety First,” and GRC faculty posted them across campus. After weeks of pressure, the College expelled the student, and the College administration has agreed to completely overhaul safety procedures. We’re looking forward to a safer school for students, faculty, and staff alike.
- Dave Norberg, President, Green River College, Local 2195
Table Of Contents
Introducing AFT Washington's Incoming President, Jacqui Cain!
It is an honor and a privilege to be elected as the incoming President of AFT Washington at our convention in May. During my union leadership at Pierce College, and particularly on the AFT Washington Executive Board as Vice President for Contingent Faculty Issues, I had the opportunity to engage with the many constituencies that make up our membership, and I appreciate the confidence you placed in my leadership to guide us through the challenging times ahead.
President's Letter: Standing Up For Democracy
The last Union Spotlight issue was mailed out right around the 100 day mark of President Trump’s second term. At that time, the House of Representatives had passed their version of a budget bill, proposing to cut nearly a trillion dollars from Medicaid funding, concentrating wealth in the hands of the wealthy with tax cuts, taking a hatchet to funding assistance for college students pursuing higher education, privatizing our schools with vouchers, and starving the budget for food assistance, among a host of other cuts to services that working people rely upon. We have also seen robust mobilizations in opposition to these and other attacks by the administration, in the courts, in state capitols, and in the streets.
Resolution To End Contingency Passes At Convention - Get Involved!
At this year’s AFT Washington Convention, the Contingent Faculty Issues Committee (CFIC) put forward a resolution—which passed unanimously—that aspires to organize the committee itself out of existence. How, you may ask? By making it so that no faculty are considered “contingent” any longer!
Mass Mobilization Training: Another Tool To Resist Authoritarianism
At AFT national headquarters last month, a group of college instructors and staff were greeted by tables covered in first aid supplies. There were flexible splints, gauze rolls, practice EpiPens, and more. Slices of pool noodles with holes in them served as sample wounds that required packing, and small groups practiced hauling each other out on portable stretchers.
AFT and AFT Washington have been active in the resistance to the Trump administration’s efforts to destroy our democracy. We believe – as noted in several articles in this Union Spotlight – that resistance is crucial, and that we have an opportunity to make real change that benefits us, not the oligarchs. To do that, we need to stay active.
The Case For Progressive Revenue
For this issue of the Union Spotlight, we asked several members and staff about the impacts their locals are facing due to the lack of progressive revenue in Washington state. The budget discussions in this legislative session throw into stark relief both the need for progressive revenue, where the wealthy are required to pay their fair share of the state's expenses as working Washingtonians do, and the impact of budget cuts that are being made due to the state's need for increased, stable revenue.
Highlights From The AFT Washington 2025 Convention
In May, AFT Washington members came together to do the important work of passing resolutions, considering amendments, electing officers, and also the rejuvenating work of spending time in community. This was our first fully in-person convention since 2019, and fittingly, we returned to the site of the 2019 convention, the Hotel Murano in Tacoma. The joy and power of unionism was on full display!
Thank You, Outgoing Board Members!
AFT Washington delegates at the 2025 convention elected our Executive Board for the next two years; they will take office on July 16th. As we welcome our new (and in some cases experienced but in new roles) leadership, three of our board members have stepped down. I want to acknowledge the service of Diane Hollstrom, Tacoma Federation of Education Support Professionals, Local 461; Travis Margoni, AFT Yakima, Local 1485; and Kip Zwolenski, Skagit Valley College Federation of Teachers, Local 4985, for their contributions and their leadership of our union.
No Time Like The Present: Where We Stand After The Legislative Session
Over the course of the 2025 legislative session, our priorities were clear – invest in the education workforce! We sought significant investment in classified staff, professional staff, and contingent faculty compensation and a permanent COLA for TRS/PERS 1 retirees, as well as investments in our students like eliminating the cap on special education funding and funding free meals for PreK-12 students.
We have already begun to develop our legislative strategies and priorities for the 2026 legislative session. That session is a short, non-budget session, so there will be limited opportunity for wage improvements or other significant investments, but that means it’s a great time to advance policy proposals.
The Primary Election Is Approaching!
It’s nearly time for the 2025 primary, and we already have quite a few candidates we’ve endorsed! Several of our locals have been active in city- and county-level races, endorsing the candidates they believe will best represent our members’ interests. We also have some legislative endorsements in process, due in part to the unusually high number of legislature appointees who are finishing their predecessor’s incomplete term.
Spotlight On: AFT Washington Retirees
Greetings Retirees! You will be receiving a mailing from the Retiree Chapter Board soon. Please do not throw it away! We are planning the postponed Biennial Meeting and need your input. What you will be receiving is information on our Biennial Meeting and an important survey that we would like all to participate in. It will help us tremendously to put together a meeting that will bring us together. So please fill it out and return it to AFT Washington. I know that not all retirees will get this digital Union Spotlight, as we do not have email addresses for all. So please pass this information onto retirees that you know and ask them to fill out the survey.
In Other News
Higher Ed Dive: Federal Judge Strikes Down NIH Directives Against DEI Research
The Washington State Standard: These Washington laws take effect July 1
The New York Times: Fact-Checking Trump and Republicans on Proposed Tax Cuts in Policy Bill
In solidarity,
Karen Strickland
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