June 2025
From the President
Hello AFT Washington Leaders! I am still feeling the energizing effects of our convention as we make our way through June and I know you are all busy wrapping up the school year, holding your officer elections and bargaining contracts – there’s a lot going on!
June is also Pride Month and the value of elevating that is increasingly crucial as we see the array of efforts to squelch the rights and freedoms of people who identify as LGBTQIA+. We also celebrate Juneteenth and Gun Safety Awareness month in June.
We live in especially uncertain and chaotic times. Reading the headlines can cause vertigo as we swing from changes to tariffs day to day, to the drama of the power struggle between Trump and Musk, to the militarization in Los Angeles in response to peaceful protests of ICE’s overreach, to the ongoing genocide in Gaza and Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine. Add to that the challenging state budget and the high likelihood of cuts in federal funding, and things can feel overwhelming.
Even so, it is imperative that we do the work to maximize our greatest strength – our collective power that we achieve through solidarity and a commitment to action.
Our union will go through a significant transition from my presidency to our newly elected president, Jacqui Cain, who takes office on July 16th. Jacqui has been on our board for four years, has many years of experience in union leadership, and her organizing chops are strong! We’re working together to create as seamless a transition as possible without letting our foot off the gas on our projects, programs, and local support. Change always brings with it challenge and opportunity and I’m confident that Jacqui and our Board will make the most of both, continuing to build our power at the local and state levels. Our staff team and our councils and committees also play a key role in our work – thank you to all who contribute to the state federation’s efforts!
We will increase our efforts in two specific ways over the next few months: membership drives and mobilizing to defend our democracy and resist the attacks to weaken it. We are inviting your membership chairs or, if you don’t have one a membership point person, to come together for a workshop in late August to set goals and hone skills so that come fall we’re ready to sign up new members and engage all of our members in our union.
We are also forming an ad hoc Mobilization Committee to facilitate our intentional participation in both resisting harmful policies, attacks, and funding decisions coming from the federal government while harnessing that collective energy for local, regional, and state wins. If you have an interest in participating or have a member you’d like to recommend, please email us at aftwashington@aftwa.org.
The last 12 years have provided me with enormous opportunity and the gratification of fighting the good fight, with good people and for righteous cause. Thank you for all you have contributed to our union over these years, including input that informed my perspective, my tenacity, my optimism, and my critical thinking as I navigated the staff changes, the Janus decision, the pandemic, and two elections of a U.S. president dedicated to dismantling public education and our democracy.
Until next time, take care and stay strong in solidarity with your AFT family.
In solidarity,
Karen Strickland, President