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November 19, 2021: Members save thousands erasing student loan debt; Locals in high gear with vaccine clinics; Vote in HISD race
The Hotline will take a break next week for the Thanksgiving holiday and will return on December 3. Local unions kick into high gear with campaigns urging vaccinations at free clinics Texas AFT local unions have been holding dozens of free COVID-19 and flu vaccination clinics the past month, and with shots allowable expanding to aged 5-12 students, they are...
Read MoreGovernor turns his back on our schools; Our new Election 2022 page; Discriminatory laws take effect
Governor panders to false narrative on parental rights, turns his back on addressing the extreme hardships teachers face in Omicron surge Is Gov. Greg Abbott talking about how to...
Read MoreJanuary 14, 2022: Take our Omicron survey; New TEA guidelines released; Get ready to vote; Cy-Fair trustee blasted for racial remarks
Omicron is making a hard job even harder We know how hard Texas school employees work every day, especially during this pandemic. And no matter what the talking heads might say, we...
Read MoreJanuary 7, 2022: 13th check for retirees on its way; More federal funds flowing to schools; Omicron wave challenges schools; Mandates still mired in lawsuits
TRS members set to receive 13th check January 14 This week the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) announced that retired teachers will be receiving their one-time supplemental benefit check (commonly referred to...
Read MoreDecember 17, 2021: Tell Mike Morath that all teachers need higher pay; SBEC updates on teacher training & certification; and Happy Holidays!
The Hotline will take a holiday break and will return on Friday, January 7. On behalf of our entire staff at Texas AFT, I want to wish you a Happy Holiday Break! You’ve worked hard in a challenging time, and...
Read MoreDecember 10, 2021: TRS report and 13th check status; DOJ sues Texas over redistricting; Free service can reduce medical bills
TRS board hears status on 13th check, fund performance, new agency office This week the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) Board of Trustees convened for its quarterly meeting to discuss the status of the 13th check for retired...
Read MoreNovember 19, 2021: Members save thousands erasing student loan debt; Locals in high gear with vaccine clinics; Vote in HISD race
The Hotline will take a break next week for the Thanksgiving holiday and will return on December 3. Local unions kick into high gear with campaigns urging vaccinations at free clinics Texas AFT local unions have been holding dozens of...
Read MoreNovember 12, 2021: Federal judge ruling nixes Gov’s ban on mask mandates; Abbott directs TEA to investigate porn in schools
Federal judge overrules governor’s ban on mask mandates, freeing districts to implement local safety measures A federal district judge has ruled that Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on schools enacting mask mandates violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and can...
Read MoreNovember 5, 2021: Gov. joins the culture war fray on school books, history; Notable election results; Erase student debt with Summer!
Governor tries to demonize school boards and educators to push public schools away from teaching accurate history Last week’s Hotline described how one state lawmaker was using his role as a legislator chairing an investigations committee to throw incendiary...
Read MoreOctober 28, 2021: State rep tries to launch investigation into school library books on sex, gender, and race; Our McAllen member is Teacher of the Year; Gov. signs bills into law
McAllen AFT member named Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year McAllen AFT leaders and members congratulate Jennifer Han, our member who was named Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year last Friday. Find out more about Jennifer here. State rep...
Read MoreOctober 22, 2021: Possible ‘premium holiday’ for TRS retirees; A wrap on the 3rd special session; Early voting starts on state election
Texas Legislature concludes its third special session with a flurry of bills passed On Tuesday, the Texas Legislature adjourned sine die, putting an end to a packed third special session. The primary focus was redrawing district maps for Texas’ State...
Read MoreOctober 15, 2021: Redistricting, fed aid to TRS healthcare, trans sports bill; Gov. enters vaccine fray again
Legislative Update: Before Tuesday when the Legislature’s third special session is required to end, the GOP leadership is hoping to push through bills that would discriminate against transgender student athletes, appropriate $16 billion in federal stimulus funds, and redistrict the...
Read MoreOctober 8, 2021: Huge win on student loan debt!; #TxLege wrap of the week; Rules mulled on contract abandonment
Lawmakers move bills on transgender students in sports, redistricting, voting, and laundry list for federal pandemic aid expenditures Now in its third week of the third special session, the Legislature pushed through legislation that would discriminate against transgender student athletes...
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