Resolution To End Contingency Passes At Convention - Get Involved!
By Enrie Morrison, Union Organizing Representative
At this year’s AFT Washington Convention, the Contingent Faculty Issues Committee (CFIC) put forward a resolution—which passed unanimously—that aspires to organize the committee itself out of existence.
How, you may ask? By making it so that no faculty are considered “contingent” any longer!
Inspired by the work of California Federation of Teachers (CFT) organizers, the resolution first creates a taskforce to research the best ways to advance job security for adjunct faculty in Washington. Among other things, this taskforce will explore the feasibility of the One-Tier Faculty System currently being advanced by CFT organizers, which would put all faculty on the same pay scale and give all faculty—including those who work part-time—the same rights, protections, and responsibilities. We’ll be involving sister unions as well in this taskforce.
CFIC knows that the path to ending contingency for adjunct faculty actually forks into two: legislative wins and collective bargaining. Both require robust participation of rank-and-file adjuncts at all of our locals, so a big task before CFIC is to increase participation in the committee and run membership drives focused on adjunct faculty (which also happen to be the vast majority of potential members at faculty locals).
Want to get involved? We are seeking interested faculty for the taskforce of all kinds (both contingent and tenure track), and from both urban and rural locals. As well, we are exploring smaller legislative wins, such as improving access to unemployment insurance, to build momentum.
Communicate your interest in the taskforce or CFIC by emailing the staff support for the committee, Enrie Morrison at emorrison@aftwa.org.
Mass Mobilization Training: Another Tool To Resist Authoritarianism
By Kaitlin Gillespie, Union Organizing Representative
At AFT national headquarters last month, a group of college instructors and staff were greeted by tables covered in first aid supplies.
There were flexible splints, gauze rolls, practice EpiPens, and more. Slices of pool noodles with holes in them served as sample wounds that required packing, and small groups practiced hauling each other out on portable stretchers.
It’s not the kind of training college and university professors may be used to, but in the current political climate, AFT higher education leaders were clear that it’s the training we need.
About 40 members converged on Washington D.C. for a mass mobilization training in May. Throughout the weekend, workshop leaders offered a grim but frank analysis of the political landscape: American democracy is on life support, and the only way we can ensure its survival is through our solidarity.
Participants, including a Washington state contingent composed of two members of AFT Washington staff and two members of the Edmonds College Federation of Teachers executive board, practiced organizing direct actions, first aid skills, and de-escalation techniques that can be used in the thick of protests.
The training builds on work already being done at a few AFT locals in Washington state. Chuck Mueller, vice president for action and advocacy for AFT Edmonds, Local #4254, has taken charge in member mobilization efforts. That board organized a rally on short notice on March 4, and later rallied a crew of members to attend a No Kings rally on June 14.
“I feel more confident in my ability to participate in the kinds of direct action that we need to protect our rights and ourselves from authoritarianism,” Mueller said of the mass mobilization training.
In Washington D.C., members practiced organizing a peaceful rally protesting an imagined university’s elimination of all race and gender studies courses. It was a “ripped-from-the-headlines” example that underscores the kind of threats the Trump administration poses to AFT members across the country.
In another exercise, members practiced linking arms to form a human shield to protect each other in the event of police escalation at peaceful protests. Trainers emphasized the importance of physically feeling such actions in advance, so it becomes second nature should the need arise.
Participants also received an Adult First Aid certificate, and each local left with a backpack of street medic supplies.
"This training was a powerful reminder that solidarity isn’t just a value, it’s a practice,” said Lexy Aydelotte, an external organizer with AFT Washington. “Learning how to protect and care for each other in the streets is part of the work of building a just and safe future."
AFT will offer additional mass mobilization training at upcoming national events. Closer to home, AFT Washington offered a workshop at its biannual convention on “Meeting the Moment,” walking through concrete tips for mobilizing members to act.
"It’s heartbreaking that we need to prepare for this, but it’s also validating,” Aydelotte said. “I felt like the training made space for us to face the reality of our situation while building the skills to resist and protect each other with courage and care."
AFT Washington will host additional member mobilization training this summer – watch your email for specific dates and times. If your local would like support or training tailored to your group, talk to your union organizing representative.
Upcoming Events
By Cortney Marabetta, Communications Specialist
AFT and AFT Washington have been active in the resistance to the Trump administration’s efforts to destroy our democracy. We believe – as noted in several articles in this Union Spotlight – that resistance is crucial, and that we have an opportunity to make real change that benefits us, not the oligarchs. To do that, we need to stay active.
The next event on the books is the Good Trouble Lives On events on July 17th. Coined by civil rights leader Congressman John Lewis, "Good Trouble" is the action of coming together to take peaceful, non-violent action to challenge injustice and create meaningful change. You can get more information at goodtroubleliveson.org.
In addition, we are creating a Member Mobilization team. If you are interested in connecting members at your locals with actions to defend our democracy, please contact us at aftwashington@aftwa.org to get involved.
To get updates on future events, please make sure your contact information is updated. Contact Cortney Marabetta at cmarabetta@aftwa.org to get added to our outreach list.