Topic: AFT

Partnership with First Book continues with massive book giveaway in Houston Saturday

Publish Date: October 5, 2017

Thanks to a partnership between Texas AFT Houston-area unions, the American Federation of Teachers, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, and First Book, some 36,000 brand new books will be distributed to Houston-area elementary teachers Saturday. If you are an elementary teacher and would like to attend, make sure to sign up for free with First Book and read the important event details below. Over the past four years, Texas AFT...

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Attack on health care stopped in its tracks; AND Check out the new issue of American Educator

Publish Date: September 27, 2017

Attack on Health Care Stopped in its Tracks:  Good work, Texas AFT activists! Thanks to your advocacy and that of many more like you nationwide, the U.S. Senate leadership has withdrawn its latest attempt to strip away affordable health care from millions of Americans. Here’s some of what AFT President Randi Weingarten had to say about the unlamented demise of...

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News on Mexican-American studies, high school voter registration and AFT’s efforts to help Houston schools hurt by the hurricane

Publish Date: September 16, 2017

Mexican-American Studies Text Awaiting State Board’s Okay:  What a difference a year makes in the story of textbook selection for the subject of Mexican-American studies at the State Board of Education. Last year a unanimous SBOE voted against adoption of a proposed text that came under withering attack from scholars over factual errors and reinforcement of racial/ethnic stereotypes. This year,...

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Parents want well-funded neighborhood schools, not diversion of dollars to charters and vouchers

Publish Date: September 12, 2017

In a national Hart Research poll released today by the American Federation of Teachers, three in four public school parents say the public schools their children attend provide them with an excellent or good education. Some 79 percent of parents are satisfied with their children’s public schools when it comes to helping their children achieve their full potential, according to...

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Texas AFT convention highlights: Randi Weingarten speaks to the value of community schools in a “toxic” state and national environment

Publish Date: June 23, 2017

Texas AFT held its biennial convention--with the theme of "Public School Proud"--last weekend in El Paso. The convention included the usual business of electing statewide officers and deciding on resolutions to guide the union in the coming years. (Louis Malfaro was re-elected as president by acclamation, and Ray McMurrey was re-elected as secretary treasurer by acclamation.) The convention also included a day...

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Texas AFT Convention Kicks Off Today

Publish Date: June 16, 2017

Stay tuned for news from our biennial convention, which kicks off today at the El Paso Convention Center. Highlights of the convention include a panel on community schools, a day of professional issues workshops, a keynote speech from AFT President Randi Weingarten, and election of state officers. You can follow all the action on Facebook and on Twitter (#TexasAFTproud).

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Don’t restrict dues collections for Texas state employee unions

Publish Date: April 12, 2017

(Originally published, April 10, 2017, Dallas Morning News) Written by Micah Haley, Contributor The issue of union dues and payroll deduction for public employees is a subject I know a thing or two about. I have been a state employee, currently a unit supervisor in Texas Department of Criminal Justice parole division, for 20 years. Nineteen years ago, I voluntarily...

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AFT Scholarships Available

Publish Date: December 14, 2016

The AFT Porter Scholars Program is now accepting applications for 2017. The program offers two great opportunities for AFT members and their dependents. There is a one-time grant being awarded to ten members in the amount of $1,000 each; also available are four $8,000 scholarships for high school seniors who are dependents of active members in good standing. To access...

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