President's Letter: Building Our Power
Sitting in a space where we just turned out for No Kings Day, and looking ahead to International Workers Day in a few weeks, it is easy to see the impact the labor movement is having in the conversations taking place across our state and our nation. I had the honor to attend the signing of the Millionaire’s Tax bill earlier this week and was there when Governor Ferguson thanked the labor organizations for being part of the huge effort needed to get the historic bill across his desk. I was standing side by side with other unions, including WEA and WSLC leadership. Speaking for myself, it was hard not to be slightly stunned and definitely impressed that something that is such a game changer for our state, and that seemed impossible just a few short months ago even as we were unfurling banners and chanting in the Capitol rotunda during our lobby day, actually happened.
But the most powerful moments for me during this legislative session were from our members who came to our two work sessions. The first, which took place in the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development committee, was focused on how the student complaint process can have a disproportionate negative impact on our faculty of color and faculty from underrepresented populations. Our members shared their stories about the impacts on their lives and careers, and the damage it can do to students and overall campus communities. Senator Nobles expressed her concern and invited us to come back again, and we plan to, with ideas about how we can improve the process and create equitable and safe workspaces for all of our faculty. It’s not enough to simply say that we want a workforce that reflects our students and our values; we have to create the conditions that allow that workforce to thrive.
The second work session was with the House Postsecondary Education & Workforce committee on the topic of pay parity for contingent faculty. We were invited to present for 10 minutes, but the representatives were curious to learn more about how this system, one where colleges balance their budgets by paying inequitable wages to contract workers who teach about half of all the classes, was allowed to get this bad. They also asked questions about the impacts on the lives of the faculty, and the impacts in the classroom and on student success - the session went almost half an hour. They listened, and it is clear that we have allies who will fight with us for equal pay for equal work. We currently have a taskforce working on identifying paths forward to making greater job security a reality, and we are looking forward to pushing the Legislature for improvements they can require in the next session. Wages are a top priority, but there are also always policy improvements that can benefit adjunct faculty and strengthen our schools.
We did all that, and we’re just getting started as we continue to build relationships with other unions and community partners. I am excited to share that we applied with Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA), our sister AFT state affiliate, and received a MOVE grant from AFT National. This grant allows us to dedicate staff and resources to creating a series of opportunities for our unions, educators and nurses, to stand together in solidarity and fight for our shared issues between now and the November elections. So far, we are endorsing May Day events in Seattle, Tacoma, and Yakima, with more likely to follow, so please keep an eye out for those announcements. They are great opportunities for you to get to know other union members and be part of the powerful statement we are sending to both our state and national politicians.
We are of course looking forward to the midterms. Here in Washington, we know a number of state legislators are not running for reelection – generally, they are running for election to a new office, not retiring – and that gives us an opportunity to support candidates who understand the impact of the federal and state cuts to all levels of education and what that does to our communities. Our COPE committee is hard at work on endorsements, and we are also getting involved with other unions who are standing against some of the harmful initiatives that will be on this fall’s ballot. If you’d like to learn more about our political and legislative work, be sure to sign up for the Legisletter.
While we’re talking about the power of the labor movement and the importance of solidarity, it’s worth mentioning how many people in our state are saying “Union YES!” In just a few weeks, Highline Professional Staff will have their cards counted and will officially be represented by AFT Washington. Their bargaining team is gearing up and getting ready to take a seat at the table for their very first contract. Meanwhile, earlier this week the Professional Staff at Wenatchee Valley College filed their petition for representation. Both locals brought up the job improvements and the impact of having a voice in their colleges as reasons they sought to unionize with AFT, so you can see how our union family continues to grow. But the most important way we can support our members is to reach out to those in your own workplaces to have conversations about what being a member of AFT Washington means to you. Sometimes we can take the power of our union for granted, the voice it gives us - working with employees who are fighting for better conditions and a seat at the table is a strong reminder of what we have and why it is worth fighting for.
What is clear is that AFT Washington is a strong labor leader helping set the agenda for our state. We are showing up, speaking out, standing together, and building our power. And every member should be proud of the work that we’re doing together. Looking ahead, we are officially endorsing May Day events. If you have an event coming up in your area, your local can endorse and support that too. And when you do, wear your union gear, hat, shirt, or scarf - and represent our union and the labor movement!