News

Please join us at a family-friendly book give-away and resource fair on Saturday, May 17th, at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall with our community partners to provide free books to children through AFT's partnership with the nationally-recognized First Book. First Book offers new books to kids in need to promote reading and literacy to help them succeed in school and life. We will have Caldecott and Newberry Medal award-winning books in several languages and for all cultures and ages.

Map of Seattle Center Grounds
Exhibition Hall entry is on Mercer Street near McCaw Hall.

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Mar. 20, 2014 | Washington News Service | Chris Thomas, Producer

SEATTLE – Seattle Community College has become the fourth community or technical college in the state where employees in a variety of administrative roles have decided to bargain collectively for their wages and benefits. They'll be part of AFT Washington, after a vote last week to form a union. [more]

Feb. 26, 2014 | Washington News Service | Chris Thomas, Producer

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Gov. Jay Inslee today is to sign Washington's version of the "Dream Act." It's another step in years of effort by children of immigrant families to gain access to higher education - and it could make the difference for some as to whether college is even an option. . . . Baca, now a lobbyist for the education union AFT Washington, said immigrant students still don't qualify for the federally funded Pell Grants for higher education, which makes state-level opportunities even more important. [read or hear audio of

Feb. 21, 2014 | Crosscut.com | Guest Opinion by Karen Strickland and Michael Boggess

If you or someone you know has taken a class at one of Washington's community and technical colleges, there is a 50-50 change that the instructor was a part-time faculty member. For decades, higher education institutions across the country have increasingly hired part-time, adjunct or contingent faculty to reach, primarily because of shrinking state funding. [full article]

Feb. 21, 2014 | USA TODAY | Alex Koma, Collegiate Correspondent

The "Pay it Forward" program may change the way students pay for their college education. A bill making its way through Washington state's House of Representatives has the potential to change the way students pay for college. . . . "The program is addressing a problem we all agree exists, but the problems outweight the benefits," says Karen Strickland, president of the Washington chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, . . . ." [full article]

Washington News Service | January 20, 2014 | Chris Thomas, Producer

SEATTLE - An issue coming up again this year in the Washington Legislature is whether to restore the cost-of-living allowance (COLA) to paychecks of teachers and other education workers who have done without it since 2009. - Read or listen to entire story at: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/36953-1#sthash.XwFluCHT.dpuf

Public News Service - WA | December 24, 2013 | Chris Thomas, Producer

RENTON, Wash. - Christmas is on a Wednesday this year, but many Wednesdays will be special days in the New Year for the bus drivers and mechanics of the Renton School District, in the suburban area south of Seattle. They spend one Wednesday evening a month helping to prepare and serve the Renton Community Supper, a nightly hot meal provided through the Salvation Army. [read or listen to full story]

Public News Service - WA | December 27, 2013 | Chris Thomas, Producer

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Not all teens or young adults who show up at college are ready to be there, but a program at Washington's community colleges has been so successful at transitioning them that it's gained national attention.

I-BEST turns seven in January. It stands for Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training. [read or listen to the full story]

Washington News Service | Chris Thomas, Producer | Dec. 9, 2013

SEATTLE - Today is a National Day of Action for teachers' unions and community groups, called "Reclaim the Promise of Public Education." The premise is that students from different ethnic and income backgrounds will not have equal opportunities to learn as long as public school funding, staff and subjects continue to be cut. [Full audio and written version here.]