For far too long, our public schools, colleges and children have been shortchanged with respect to our nation’s wealth. Enough is enough.

Karen Pilecki and members of the Baltimore County Federation of Public Health Nurses testified in Annapolis before the House of Delegates Health and Government Operations committee. They are seeking a standardization of training practices and protocols across jurisdictions throughout the state. Delegate Bonnie Cullison sponsored the legislation and worked hard for it in committee. 

Karen Pilecki and members of the Baltimore County Federation of Public Health Nurses testified in Annapolis before the House of Delegates Health and Government Operations committee. They are seeking a standardization of training practices and protocols across jurisdictions throughout the state.

Did you miss the Political Conference or want to see the presenter's PowerPoint presentation?  Click below!

2019_Retired Ed MN Political Conference

When healthcare workers show up to work, they shouldn’t have to worry about whether a patient is going to hurt them. Violence should never be a part of the job.

Workplace violence has touched the lives of many of our members. One of them, Patricia "Patt" Moon-Updike, RN, will be testifying before the U. S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Workplace Protections at the hearing entitled "Caring for Our Caregivers: Protecting Health Care and social Service Workers from Workplace Violence" this Wednesday, Febrary 27, 2019, in Washington, D.C., to tell her story. 

Violence is NOT part of the job. Tell your Senator to pass legislation to protect healthcare and social service workers.

February 25, 2019 ~ Bow, NH

How many times have you heard the comment “Elections have consequences.”?  That comment was often made in NH over the past four years as part of a warning about harmful legislation or other hostile actions taken by our State government.  It might be another attempt to pass so-called right to work legislation, it might be an attempt to fund private schools with public education dollars, but whatever the reason, “elections have consequences” was always a warning and a call to action. 

Our situation is a little different this year.  “Elections have consequences”-yes.  But this time, the consequences are much more positive for AFT-NH members and for all the citizens of NH.  With friendly majorities in the NH House and Senate, the outlook for positive legislation is much brighter than in previous years. Of course, one consequence from 2018 was the re-election of Governor Sununu, meaning not all obstacles to progress have been removed.  But at least this year we anticipate fewer emergency calls asking you to contact legislators, and when we do ask, it will be to help stiffen their backbone and make clear to them that we have a positive agenda and we aim to see steps taken to enact it.  It won’t all happen this year or next but it is now time to begin moving NH in the right direction, to restore support for public education, to care for our retirees, and to establish programs to help working families across the Granite State.

In the summer of 2018, AFT Massachusetts leaders, including AFT Massachusetts President Beth Kontos, Lynn Teachers Union President Sheila O’Neil, Massachusetts Library Staff Association President Pat Kelly and MLSA Treasurer Matt Amory, were trained as AFT student debt clinic facilitators. Equipped with these new skills, they launched a statewide series of student debt clinics for AFT Massachusetts members, designed to help members learn how to access public service loan forgiveness and enroll in income-driven student loan repayment programs.