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March 14, 2025: ‘Whose Union? Our Union.’
Friday, March 14, 2025 'Whose Union? Our Union.’ On Monday, 500 Texas AFT members, parents, and students traveled to the Capitol to make their voices heard. (More on that below.) Why? Because, as Texas AFT President Zeph Capo reminded us, no one is coming to save us. It’s up to us to work together for thriving public schools, colleges, and...
Read MoreThis Week in the Legislature: Texas House Takes Up School Finance, School Security, & Charter School Expansion
Texas AFT President Zeph Capo and special education teachers Konrad Wert and Andrea Bell meet with staff in Rep. Ken King’s office about House Bill 100 on Tuesday. The Texas House voted on several of the most consequential public education...
Read MoreHouse Public Education Committee to Consider Staffing Notification Requirements, Mandatory Display of Religious Texts in Public Schools
Next week, the House Public Education Committee will consider several bills, including: HB 1281 by Rep. Jolanda Jones (D-Houston) would require school districts to notify families if a public school or open-enrollment charter school does not have a nurse assigned...
Read MoreAFT President Randi Weingarten Defends Science-Based, Expert-Approved Pandemic Response
Texas AFT regularly participates in coalition work with allies related to our legislative priorities; in the past week, we have had the chance to join our coalition partners at the Capitol for successful advocacy days.
Read More‘Hat in Hand’: Retired Texas teachers forced to beg for pension relief in world’s 9th-largest economy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 25, 2023 CONTACT: press@texasaft.org Retirees expressed gratitude for the Legislature’s current proposals but emphasized they aren’t nearly enough to keep their colleagues fed, housed, and healthy. Texas AFT Secretary-Treasurer Ray McMurrey speaks at a press conference...
Read MoreApril 21, 2023: Where’s the sense of urgency on anything that matters?
Friday, April 21, 2023 Picking winners and losers San Antonio Alliance member Teresa Razo and Northeast Houston AFT member Tammy Reyes meet with a representative from Rep. Greg Bonnen’s office this past Tuesday. This week, the Texas House Public Education Committee took up the very important work of debating whether...
Read MoreState Budget Negotiators Announced by House & Senate Leadership
This past week, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced which legislators will participate in the conference committee on HB 1, the State Budget for the next biennium. These conferees will have the final say on what is included and what is excluded from the budget....
Read MoreRecap: This Week at the Legislature
San Antonio Alliance member Teresa Razo and Northeast Houston AFT member Tammy Reyes meet with a representative from Rep. Greg Bonnen’s office this past Tuesday. Public Education: House Approves Book Ban & Public Education Committee Hears Texas AFT Testimony, Senate Passes School Safety Bill and Targets Separation of Church and...
Read MoreBills to Watch: Texas House to Consider Your Paychecks, School Safety
Important Bills Heading to a House Vote In addition to the committee action next week, a few consequential bills further along in the legislative process will likely be considered on the floor of the House. HB 100 by Rep. Ken King (R-Canadian) is the comprehensive school finance bill. Texas AFT...
Read MoreSan Antonio Alliance Advocacy Wins Largest Pay Raise Package in 25 Years
Texas AFT regularly participates in coalition work with allies related to our legislative priorities; in the past week, we have had the chance to join our coalition partners at the Capitol for successful advocacy days.
Read MoreRetired Texas Educators to Rally for Pension Increases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 21, 2023 CONTACT: press@texasaft.org ***MEDIA ADVISORY*** MONDAY, April 24 at the Texas Capitol After two decades without a raise, retirees say they're not ready to settle for the crumbs of Texas' historic state budget. AUSTIN, Texas — Any educator who's retired in Texas since September 2004 is...
Read MoreApril 14, 2023: A Raise Bill is Finally Being Heard
Friday, April 14, 2023 Who exactly is this session for? McAllen AFT members and LUPE volunteers protest outside Gov. Greg Abbott’s voucher stop at Covenant Christian Academy in McAllen. Photo by Clarissa Riojas. Last week, the Texas House passed a budget without any provision for meaningful raises for school employees....
Read MoreHere’s what’s in school finance bill HB 100 — and what’s not.
A central demand of our Respect Agenda is a real raise for all public school employees: a minimum $10,000 for teachers and certified staff and at least 15% for paraprofessionals and support staff. Two bills that featured such raises — HB 1548 and HB 4586 — are gathering dust, waiting...
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