LFT is working to compile an up to date list of resources available to families in Louisiana dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and school closure. Enclosed you will find information about
This is a confusing and scary time for many of us.
Since January, in response to the coronavirus, the AFT-AZ’s attention has been focused on how to ensure the health and safety of our families and communities, particularly those on the frontline of this crisis. Now, since the World Health Organization has labeled the coronavirus a global pandemic, our attention must be on everything: prevention and precaution, treatment, and the short and long-term economic impact of COVID-19 on families and communities.
The Louisiana Department of Education compiled this list and will continue to update it as more information becomes available.
Members, the country as a whole is experiencing a rather unique situation, the seriousness of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has reached global proportion and people from all walks of life have been effected in some way or fashion. It is the responsibility of the BOD (Board of Directors) to look out for members health and safety. Therefore, the BOD has agreed to postpone the MCEA convention scheduled for April 18, 2020 until further notice.
On Friday, Governor John Bel Edwards proclaimed that all public schools in the state shall close beginning Monday, March 16th until Monday, April 13th and any gatherings of more than 250 people shall halt. Additionally, he has suspended the requirement for 63,720 instructional minutes per year.
As the nation works to limit the spread and impact of the potentially fatal 2019 novel coronavirus, COVID-19, CUB members have resources they can use as an AFT affiliate to be more informed on personal safety and workplace protocol. Click here to visit AFT.org for a number of tools provided by AFT that will be helpful for school staff and local public employees.
The AFT has done numerous information sessions since the coronavirus emerged, and we’ll do the largest telephone town hall to date this Saturday at 1 p.m. Central. We will highlight what we know, provide our recommendations and answer your questions. You can sign up for the town hall here. In order to join the call, you must R.S.V.P. by midnight on Friday.
The 2020 legislative session began Monday, March 9th. It kicked off with the Governor’s annual State of the State address on Monday afternoon and continued with a flurry of introductory committee meetings.
Learn more about LFT's five main legislative priorities this session:
1. Reduce Unnecessary Testing
2. Secure Pay Raises and Increased School Funding
3. Protect Retirement
4. Improve School Safety & Discipline
5. Expand and Protect the Rights of Working People
In case you missed it, educators across New Mexico are asking the Education Retirement Board (NMERB) to divest retirement funds from private prisons. We know that these institutions promote the School to Prison pipeline and we believe our hard-earned money should not be used to fund these companies.
Currently, NMERB has only $1.4M in private prison companies out of an investment fund of $13 billion. So, this will not hurt our retirement funds. On the contrary, private prisons are one of the riskiest investments on Wall Street. Click here to read more!
You might have seen that the Albuquerque Teachers Federation (ATF) Fed Rep Council passed a motion calling on the ERB to take action. Click here to read more!
AFT New Mexico is calling on educators across New Mexico to sign on and ask the NMERB to re-direct our retirement money. Please sign the petition online now by clicking HERE!
Thank you for taking action!
In Solidarity,
Stephanie Ly
AFT New Mexico, President
In March, BESE met to approve an MFP proposal with $80 million dollars in additional funding. They also examined the Jump Start program, talked about the process to hire John White's replacement and more.
