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 Thanks to your advocacy and that of many more like you nationwide, the U.S. Senate leadership has withdrawn its latest attempt to strip away affordable health care from millions of Americans.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...
Read MoreMexican-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,...
Read MoreIn 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...
Read MoreWe are pleased to share here a report from our national affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers, on AFT President Randi Weingarten’s August 24 Texas back-to-school visit.
Read MoreTexas 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...
Read MoreStay 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).
Read More(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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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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In Texas and across the United States, 100,000 people in more than 200 cities took part in the latest—and by far the largest to date—wave of "walk-ins" to promote educational opportunity so that every child can attend a high-quality public school or university. At most events, occurring on or near October 6, supporters gathered outside their schools in the morning...
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