AFT

Corporate greed has led to the closure of essential hospitals and services and dangerously low staffing levels—but together we’re standing up for patients, healthcare workers, and communities. In the new AFT Health Care, read about how AFT Connecticut, the Oregon Nurses Association, and the Montana Nurses Association are organizing Code Red campaigns to protect health professionals from workplace violence and other staffing-related challenges. Then, dive into the harms of hospital mergers and private equity’s predatory tactics—and see how coalitions of health professionals and community groups are fighting back. Also in this issue: the benefits of a diverse healthcare workforce and how the Biden-Harris administration has decreased costs and increased access to healthcare. https://lnkd.in/ekUeTWVG

The AFT Votes Bus Tour 2024 is charging full steam ahead! We've already rallied communities across the country, fired up member volunteers, and are on a mission to keep the momentum going for crucial local and statewide elections. Together, we’re paving the way to victory for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz this November. Let’s finish strong and get out the vote! #AFTvotes

The #AFTvotes bus tour has made its way through 10 states so far. Our members are some of the most trusted voices in their communities. It’s a joy to be organizing for real solutions with all of you! 💙

Governor Tim Walz’s basic humanity and decency showed through in the debate. We couldn’t be prouder of Walz, a former AFT member, high school social studies teacher and football coach in Mankato, Minn. He shares our values and our commitment to the American dream. Like Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, Walz knows the path for Americans to get ahead, not just get by, is through educational and economic opportunity. Watch what his colleagues had to say after the Education Minnesota watch party.

Teacher quality is the most important school-related factor influencing student achievement. Closing the growing pay gap between teachers and other professionals is critical to ensuring the quality of public education in the US. Closing the teacher pay gap is "a question of political will, with profound implications for our children, their families and communities, and the future of our nation," says Sylvia Allegretto.

WASHINGTON—AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement after tonight’s presidential debate: “Vice President Kamala Harris won tonight’s debate by focusing on the American people. “She understands the aspirations and hopes of Americans. “She laid out a strong, positive vision for this country built on unity and specific plans that create an opportunity economy and treat healthcare as a right, not a privilege. She pledged to be a president for all Americans. Donald Trump offered more lies, incoherence, narcissism and nonsense, proving that he is unfit to get anywhere near the White House. “As Trump dwelled on his dark, backward-looking agenda, Harris called on Americans to come together and turn the page. She made it clear that she stands with working people and will fight to protect fundamental freedoms, strengthen our democracy and make sure every person has the opportunity to not just get by, but to get ahead. “Harris knows the path to economic opportunity is education. She will invest in great public schools, including pathways to great jobs, while increasing access to housing and affordable healthcare, taking on price gouging, and strengthening Social Security and Medicare. She has a proud history of fighting for fair wages, unions and a strong middle class. “Trump is fighting for himself. He’s flailing, and we watched him melt down during this debate. The man who once proposed injecting disinfectant as a COVID-19 treatment whined that he didn’t get enough credit for his response to the pandemic. He repeated his delusions about winning the 2020 election. He used the praise of a dictator, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as a character reference. He claimed the nation is ‘dying.’ “This election is the most important not only in our lifetimes but in our children’s lifetimes. We are voting for their future. Kamala Harris represents a new generation of leadership that is fighting for real solutions for all American families. We must not get dragged back into chaos, fear and hate. It’s time to turn the page.” # # # # https://lnkd.in/e74uq4ek

Labor Day is a reminder that together we can accomplish what is impossible alone!

AFT and Microsoft joined this week to engage in robust dialogue on AI in education. The honest conversations we had about the the role of educators in the development and usage of these tools left me energized and excited for the year to come! I loved presenting with colleagues from AFT and Microsoft. Thank you educators for all you do, and hope your first weeks of school are a time of joy and hope.

Thanks to Amy Pannoni and whole Microsoft team (Nisaini R., Nagma Meharali, Patrick O'Steen, Emma Gray, Gregory Bianchi, sorry to those we couldn't find on here) for your partnership! We had so many amazing speakers and inspiring educators in the room for this symposium, and we're all excited to keep the conversations and collaboration going.

It was an incredible two days of learning with AFT and Microsoft at the AI in Education Symposium. Thank you to Ami Turner DelAguila for facilitating our session on AI 101. This is just the beginning of the work revolutionizing education with AI. Thank you to my UFT Teacher Center and NYC crew for an amazing time. It’s always a privilege to learn with you. #AIinEducation