The Pulse

For months now we have been talking about and mobilizing for the looming revenue deficit in our state, which has grown to an estimated $15 billion over the next four years. This has led to discussions of budget cuts throughout state government, including in early learning and higher education. Lest we think that PreK-12 education has been left out, let’s remember that given decades of underfunding, no cuts or minimal increases make it extremely difficult to meet the needs of students and do right by the workforce.
 

Our members have shown up to meet with legislators in their home districts, at their workplaces, on zoom and in Olympia over the last 9 months to paint the picture of harm if there is no investment in education while also highlighting what can be accomplished if meaningful investment is made. Legislators have listened, lamented, and often stated a commitment to raising new, progressive revenue to deal with the reality before us. With just about 40 days left in this legislative session, the time has come to demonstrate that commitment. It is unlikely, however, that we will see the new revenue needed without mobilizing our members and taking collective action. The AFT Washington Advocacy Team is planning the next step in our advocacy plan and we’ll share it with you soon.

I was invited to give the keynote speech at the Public School Employees’ legislative conference on February 16th. It was an honor and a treat to spend time with our union siblings in a union representing the same constituencies that we do. My intention was to acknowledge that we’re up against it right now, but that we have a lot of collective power, as long as we decide to use it. That takes a lot of work, but I’m up for it and I hope you are too! I decided to share my speech this month as it is a true reflection of where I am as the president of our union. Thank you for reading it!

Solidarity New Year! Given the start to 2025 and the rough road ahead, that seems a bit more fitting than happy new year. For those of you with friends or family in Los Angeles, my heart goes out to you, and I hope they are safe. I was at an AFT meeting earlier this week where the president of the California Federation reported that about 100 AFT members have lost their homes – it will take a long time for them and many other Angelenos to find their footing and achieve the stability and peace of mind burned away in the fires. AFT has a disaster fund, and I encourage you to contribute – personally and/or your local – to help our union siblings.

Happy Holidays AFT Leaders - however you spend this time of year, I wish you all relaxation, rejuvenation, and a good dose of joy! I am looking forward to some time off to enjoy activities I’ve set aside and prepare for the important work we have to do in 2025. With the legislative session, the start of the second Trump administration, and our convention in May we have a lot going on and will be calling on you to get involved with us.

For many months, our members along with our AFT siblings around the country have spent many hours writing post cards, making phone calls, knocking on doors and talking to friends, family members, neighbors and their union siblings. AFT spent two months on the road, visiting 20 states and hosting local events in support of our endorsed candidates and the communities they seek to represent. Organized labor and progressive groups have worked tirelessly to counter the destructive goals, the disinformation campaign and the hostile, violent and dehumanizing messaging of the Trump campaign.

Election day is nearly here, but there is a great deal of work to be done between now and then to achieve the best possible outcomes at every level. Here in Washington we have some tough races, including getting Marie Gluesenkamp Perez re-elected in congressional district 3 in Southwest Washington. Elon Musk just threw $380,000 into MAGA candidate Joe Kent’s campaign, but Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez is fighting hard to keep her seat in DC with the support of Labor and other Progressive groups. Our endorsed candidates in several legislative districts are also in close races, including LD 10, LD 26, and LD 14 to name a few. Please consider joining us for canvassing and phone banking for these and other candidates – see our endorsements here.

Well, this school year is off to a hot start! We have a huge election just weeks away – did you watch the debate? It feels like we’ve shifted from the Mariners’ second half of the season back to the first half! (For clarity – the M's are 3.5 games behind the Astros right now, but they went into the all-star break 10 games ahead!) We have a robust legislative agenda despite the fiscal concerns expressed by legislators worried about a revenue crisis when they begin working to set the biennial budget in a few short months.

We have, unbelievably, reached the end of another school year. I hope that your summertime plans include fun, relaxation, rejuvenation and, of course, a bit of union building activity! Our in-person Powerful Locals Conference is scheduled for July 31 – August 2 at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma – there is still time to get your team registered, so please register soon.

As I look ahead to what comes after summer the election is top-of-mind, as I’m sure it is for many of you as well. I know I’ll be hitting the doors to turn out the vote for our endorsed candidates; please create a little space in your calendar when you get the call to join us in that work. We’ve got some terrific legislative candidates and want to help get them elected so they can support our legislative agenda. After the legislative session, we come to convention in May of 2025, capping the school year and setting our course for the next two years.

May 2024

No letter from Karen this month!

I was pretty thrilled a couple of weeks ago when I went to the fifth Mariners’ game of the season with my son, daughter-in-law and a couple of friends, scored a Julio bobblehead, and witnessed a win! But wait, those weren’t even the highlights of the evening! The real highlight was when Vicky, my son’s friend, greeted me with a big hug and “I have a great report for you on our contract!” The last time we spoke was in July when she and her city librarian co-workers were in a struggle to get a respectable COLA … at that time it seemed the struggle might go on for a while. And it did, given this was on April 1st and they had just ratified a contract with meaningful retroactive raises. I was happy with their win but thrilled by Vicky’s display of pride and satisfaction with the collective power of her and her co-workers. The fact that it was the first thing she wanted to tell me about put me over the moon!

When I sat down to write my column this month, several topics came to mind - this summer’s conventions, resolutions on climate, workplace respect, and investments in the common good, our newest local’s ratification of their first contract and our two soon-to-be new locals. As I reflected on the commonalities among the list, I thought about Vicky and the theme was obvious – the power of the collective and the uplifting effect it has on all of us in the labor movement when we achieve and share those wins that make jobs, and our lives, better.