Tell Your Story About Budget Cuts
Tell us your story about how state budget cuts have impacted your students, your family and friends, or your neighbor. Real stories have the most impact on what moves people to take action. Go to http://tinyurl.com/7md3ckj.
Faculty and WEEL members in Olympia for Lobby Day
Rep. Kagi talks to members during Lobby Day on Feb. 20. Rep. Goodman also met with early learning members. Faculty from AFT Seattle, South Puget Sound Community College Federation of Teachers, and Cascadia Community College Federation of Teachers participate in Lobby Day at the State Legislature. AFT Seattle Faculty President Karen Strickland spoke at the rally and delivered report cards grading the legislation session on our key bills and revenue legislation.
Sen. Murray proposes capital gains tax to fund education
What do you think about this proposal?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2017442979_budget07.html
NY Times, Taking More Seats on Campus…
…Foreigners Also Pay the Freight by Tamar Lewin
Feb. 4, 2012
SEATTLE – This is the University of Washington’s new math: 18 percent of its freshmen come from abroad, most from China. Each pays tuition of $28,059, about three times as much as students from Washington State. [read full article]
We appreciate the boldness of Rep. Reykdal and Sen. Frockt for putting forth a plan to help our state generate more revenue — one that is not dependent upon retail sales to fund essential services and fulfill our constitutional requirement to fully fund education.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/01/06/1971382/legislators-propose-income-tax.html
Faculty Join Occupy Olympia
AFT Washington and locals hold “A Teachable Moment: A Dialogue on Democratic Change” at the State Capitol.
AFT Washington Statement In Support of the Occupy Movement
On Saturday, November 5, 2011, the AFT Washington Executive Board formally endorsed and voted to support the Occupy Movement.
AFT and the AFL-CIO have also made statements of support for the Movement.
It is our understanding that the Occupy Movement is a leaderless movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions participating because of their individual commitment to proactive change in our political and economic system. Participants are members of the 99% who resist the disproportionate concentration of economic wealth in the hands of 1% of the population and the unequal power that wealth confers. The Occupy Movement is committed to achieving its ends through non-violent protest and community action.
AFT Washington encourages our members and our locals to become involved with the public manifestation of the Occupy Movement that is nearest them. We are aware of sites in Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, and Everett, but there may be others. Some form spontaneously for short times. Information may be available at http://www.occupytogether.org/ or the Facebook “Occupy Washington” site, which links to other sites.
There are several ways in which locals can be involved.
1. Pass your own motion of support and make your members aware of it. You may have members already involved in the movement. They will value their union’s endorsement.
2. Make formal connections with a nearby site and offer support. They usually need food, warm clothes, blankets, socks and numerous other items. Check with them to see what items they are short of.
3. If there is not a site nearby, consider starting one either on your campus public spaces or at a visible spot in the closest community center.
4. Sponsor teach-ins about the Occupy Movement and the issues it represents on your campus. (Green River and Seattle locals will have advice.)
The Occupy Movement is not a union movement but many unions and labor councils are giving active support since Occupy shares similar goals and values: a fair economy for all with good jobs and benefits for everyone able to work and protections for those who aren’t, in a society that values and responds to their voices and contributions.
For more information contact Sandra Schroeder, AFT Washington President, at 206-432-8080 or sschroeder@aftwa.org.
Tell Us Your Story: The Impact of State Budget Cuts
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Everyone has a compelling story to tell. And everyone likes stories about heroes who overcome adversity. Teachers, families, students, the middle-class, veterans are all everyday heroes. Through stories, we are able to communicate our values as we share our experiences. Stories have the p
ower to motivate and inspire others to take the action you want them to take.
AFT Washington would like to gather stories about what’s happening at our schools and colleges because of the draconian budget cuts to education during the last three years and the very real possibility more cuts will be made to fill a budget deficit. We plan to share these stories with policymakers and legislators.
Go to http://tinyurl.com/7md3ckj.
This Thursday, 11/10, at Green River Community College
Movie: “Sir! No Sir” at 4 – 5:30 pm with discussion afterward
Room SC 322 (new location), Green River Community College
One of the most memorable chapters of the Vietnam War has also long been one of the least revisited: the antiwar movement inside the military: the G.I. Movement. In filmmaker David Zeiger’s documentary about the G.I. Movement, “Sir! No Sir!,” Mr. Zeiger takes a look at how the movement changed and occasionally even rocked the military from the ground troops on up.
