OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—Statement by Ed Allen, president of the Oklahoma City American Federation of Teachers which represents 2,600 Oklahoma City public school teachers, on the Oklahoma House of Representatives’ bill to raise teacher salaries by an average of $6,000, which would be paid by, among other sources, raising the gross production tax on oil and gas to 5 percent, a 3 cent-a-gallon tax on gasoline purchases, and a $5-per-night tax on hotel and motel stays. 

Madison, WI – The AFT-Wisconsin Executive Board has endorsed the campaign to “Vote No” on the removal of the Office of the Wisconsin State Treasurer.

“I would encourage you to Vote NO on eliminating the position of State Treasurer,” said Dawn Totzke, a School Library Media Specialist in Chippewa Falls and member of AFT Local 1907.  “Save the funding that supports your school libraries. And keep our financial watchdog over our state finances!”

March 26, 2018 - Bow, NH

The dust is now settling from the mayhem that is “crossover” in the NH Legislature, the date (March 22) by which bills from either the Senate or the House must be acted upon and if passed, sent on to the other chamber.  Both the House and Senate were in long sessions on both Wednesday and Thursday last week, but with the rush of business concluded, take a breather this week.  Instead, the focus is on upon committee hearings and then the slow grind towards May 3, the date by which each chamber must act on bills having originated on “the other side of the wall.” 

Launched after Hurricane Maria made landfall six months ago, Operation Agua continues to serve as a lifeline for communities still without access to safe drinking water, and it is now more than 75 percent to its goal of bringing 100,000 water filters to Puerto Rico. Operation Agua has raised $1.75 million through crowdfunded donations and has delivered 54,000 Kohler Clarity water filters across the island, including to more than 1,100 public schools and tens of thousands of homes, churches and community centers. Based on funds on hand, 23,040 more filters will be heading to the island shortly.

On Saturday, March 24, 2018 a handful of MEA members joined tens of thousands of activists throughout our country and the world by attending local March For Our Lives events.  Thank you to Melinda Smith, Patrick Dillon, Kathy Olwy and retiree Nancy Reisman who attended the Great Neck event.  Thank you to Karen Murphy and Hae Jung Yang who attended the New York City event.  Thank you to Julie Colbert and Anne Soldano who attended the Glen Cove event. Also, thank you to Steve Gilroy, Tony Blyskal, Holly Weinstein, Ed Vasta and retiree Carol Donhue who attended the Huntington event. Thank you to Anne Albano for attending the SUNY Old Westbury event.  Thank you to Donna Stoerger and Elizabeth Theo-Moloney for attending the SUNY Farmingdale event. And thank you to Pat HIggins and Nancey Weiss for attending the Port Washington event.  Pictures from this inspiring day can be found by selecting "News" / "Photos" from the menu above.

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We hope you have a healthy and restful Spring Break!

Colleagues,

Your Union in Action: what was going on at NTU this week?