April 2026
From the President
Earlier this month I was able to join a cohort of union leaders for workshops at the Labor Education Resource Center (LERC) at South Seattle College. There, I met for the first time leaders from our unions across the state, from the building trades and Teamsters, to SEIU and Washington State Labor Council. We created a place for honest communication about the challenges we face as leaders in the labor movement – in this particular time.
The obstacles we experience working within education are both the same, and different, from workers in other sectors. But I learned that the solutions are largely the same, and they start with trust and solidarity. A wise piece of advice I received from a colleague recently was, we organize at the speed of trust. Sometimes trust is hard to build, but I believe we all recognize that we’ve never needed to trust each other more than at this point in our collective lived history.
In that vein, I had the pleasure of attending APALA’s annual fundraising dinner last week, where the theme was “Unite for Action.” While it was in many ways a call to unite to resist the forces dividing us and attacking us, it was also impressive to look around the room and see how literally united we were, with both leaders and members from dozens of unions coming together to support our Asian and Pacific Islander siblings and the work they do to support their communities. A powerful reminder, that ‘we take care of us,’ as keynote Bernie Burnham, president of the Minnesota AFL-CIO, shared, that when we are under attack, whether from corporations, the legislators, or our own Federal government, our solidarity is our strength.
I have been thinking about this as we engage in conversations across the spaces we share, about the future of our education system at large, and more specifically about the direction for our 2027 legislative agenda. Over the next month, you will receive invitations to add your thoughts. We know that education is a hard vocation right now, at all levels, and the state legislature’s actions in the last few sessions have not helped. That’s why we need your thoughts about where we should collectively focus our legislative energies, and I encourage you to speak up!
I have also been thinking about how “unite for action” could once again break new records for turn out next week for May Day. You will read more about that in this issue of the Pulse – make plans to join in! I also want to highlight the Parent Education program rally that took place before and during the SBCTC board meeting at Seattle on the 16th. This isn’t just a sleeper wave on the horizon, this is movement!
It all leads me to one inescapable conclusion: the reason that more and more of us are standing up is that we trust that we are not standing alone. We are learning to trust that we can protect each other, and that we are in it for the long haul. We’re sharing our solidarity and standing strong to support each other. Not just this May Day, not just next Labor Day and not just the next election – but for our labor movement.
In solidarity,
Jacqui Cain, President
Local Highlights & News
Welcome (Back), Cristine Rice!
By Cortney Marabetta, Communications Specialist
We are absolutely delighted to welcome Cristine Rice back to AFT Washington! She will be taking on the role of Administrative Support Specialist, while Tammy Fouts has moved into the Finance Manager role vacated when Somma Rath resigned in February.
Cristine says she is excited to return to AFT Washington! In 2009 she was given the opportunity to bring her love of being an administrative assistant to the labor movement when she was offered a position with International Union of Operating Engineers Local 286, and has been in the labor movement since.
“I grew up in a union family with both my parents belonging to unions. It made sense to me that when a position with a labor union was offered to me in 2009 to take it. I was and still am proud to be part of the labor movement,” Cristine said. She came to AFT Washington initially in 2012, then left for an opportunity with WFSE Council 28 in 2020, and came back to AFT Washington April 1st.
She is looking forward to bringing this enthusiasm and her skills to AFT Washington, and helping move the organization forward.
Welcome back, Cristine!
Join Us For A Listening Session With The AFT Washington Human Rights Committee!
Wednesday, May 20th, 5:00 – 7:00 PM, in person
You are invited to join our Human Rights Committee to discuss issues that directly impact AFT members, students, workers, our families, and our community.
We wish to engage in discussion of how we are impacted by changes in federal policy in higher education and our communities. We want to provide both discussion and practical solutions to how we organize to protect our community. The discussion will also include how we organizationally work to provide support to marginalized people in our union and build relationships in our communities.
Where:
600 Oakesdale Ave SW, Renton, WA 98057
Conference Room
When:
Wednesday, May 20th, 2026, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM
We look forward to seeing you in person. Registration here.
Are You May Day Strong?
By Cortney Marabetta, Communications Specialist
This year, labor and community groups across the country are pushing to make May Day a record-setting event. The AFT is among many, many other organizations who have endorsed the May Day Strong pledge, which calls on signers to not work, shop, or attend school on May first, as a signal of working-class power in the face of the efforts of the wealthy to avoid paying taxes and increasingly control and limit our options.
You can read more about the pledge here.
Even if you haven’t taken the pledge, this is a great year to show up and be counted! AFT Washington has endorsed 3 May Day events thus far. If you know of another one, let us know – we want to support labor power.
Seattle
Friday, May 1st, 12:00 PM
More information here.
Tacoma
Friday, May 1st, 4:00 PM
More information here.
Yakima
Friday, May 1st, 4:00 - 8:00 PM
More information here.
We have endorsed these events in partnership with the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA), another AFT statewide affiliate in Washington. More on that partnership and the AFT MOVE grant powering our work to come!
Rallying For Parent Education
By Cortney Marabetta, Communications Specialist
In the last issue of the Pulse, we noted that the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and the Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges made changes to the Allocation Model that outline how college funds must be used last fall. Those changes remove funding for programs that do not provide certificates or other degrees as outcomes. This eliminates the 80-year-old parent education program and cooperative preschools in Washington State's Community and Technical Colleges, which function on a state-granted tuition waiver and do not provide certificates.
On April 4th, program representatives from North Seattle and South Seattle Colleges held a press conference; speakers and attendees included Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, state Senator Rebecca Saldana, Representative Gerry Pollet, and many others. All expressed concern and dismay at the State Board’s decision, which statewide will impact about 4500 families. The Seattle Colleges programs are fundraising to try to sustain their programs for a year until a permanent fix can be developed; at this time, they’ve raised about $600,000 of the $2 million needed for a year of operation.
In addition, we held a rally at the State Board’s meeting at South Seattle College on April 9th. As you can see from the photos, we had a strong turnout of children, who had plenty to attract their attention. We also heard from parents, staff, and state Senator Emily Alvarado. The rally also marched through the building and joined the State Board meeting.
The State Board seems to be adopting a wait-them-out approach. Internally, we are extremely concerned about what this suggests for future dealings with the new director, Nate Humphrey, and our legislative plan for the interim reflects that. We are continuing to push for a satisfactory resolution for the parent education programs; right now, their greatest need is for the State Board to allow the programs to continue as-is for another year while permanent fixes are developed.
Next actions include a delivery of children’s art to the board and to legislators, and a meeting with the Governor’s office.
Support the AFT Washington/Barnard Iglitzin Lavitt Scholarship
By Cortney Marabetta, Communications Specialist
Has your local donated to support the AFT Washington/Barnard Iglitzen Lavitt Scholarship this year? Now is a great time to do so!
Every year, AFT Washington provides scholarships to AFT Washington members and their families who are getting a post-high-school degree at any educational level. In recent years, thanks to the generosity of locals and individual donors who have participated in our previous fundraisers, we’ve been able to offer six $1500 scholarships – that’s six students who receive a scholarship, up from our pre-pandemic four!
If your local would like to donate through our GivingFuel account, you can do that here. If you’d prefer to send a check, please contact Tammy Fouts at tfouts@aftwa.org – you can send the check to AFT Washington’s office, at 604 Oakesdale Avenue, Suite 103, Renton, WA 98057.
We appreciate our donors, and our students do too!
Save The Date For Powerful Locals!
Powerful Locals is back! Save the date for August 13th – 15th. This year, we’re back at Evergreen in Olympia. We will have tracks on contract management and member engagement, and we are finalizing the details of the additional workshops we’ll offer – let your UOR know if there’s something you think would be great to highlight in the trainings.
More information coming soon!
Union Tips & Reminders
AFT Washington & WEA Adjunct Unemployment Workshop
Thursday, June 18th, 12:00 - 1:30 PM OR Monday, June 22nd, 3:00 - 4:30 PM
AFT Washington and WEA have helped hundreds of adjuncts successfully apply for unemployment benefits over more than a decade.
This workshop is intended for seasoned and new applicants alike. The aim is to increase your chances of getting your unemployment claim as adjuncts resolved quickly, decreasing the potential of accidentally triggering delays that could delay payments by months.
Attending a live workshop is important, so we can answer questions live! We do not record sessions, but we can provide additional accommodations as needed.
Economic Opportunity Institute’s 2026 Changemakers Dinner
Thursday, May 7th, 5:30 PM
The annual EOI Changemakers Dinner is an evening of community, reflection, and building momentum for the work ahead. We have a strong community of changemakers committed to making Washington a place where everyone can thrive. Let’s build this momentum and make lasting progress for all Washingtonians.
AFT Washington has purchased a table. If you are interested in attending the dinner, at Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center, please contact Tammy at tfouts@aftwa.org.
Human Rights Committee Seeks Members
The AFT Washington Human Rights Committee is sincerely committed to our mission statement of advocating for human rights in our workplaces and our community. We are continuing to work with our locals and allies to combat racism, foster community, and educate our members and communities on the importance of Human Rights. The AFT Washington Human Rights Committee needs your expertise, experience, and investment in upholding Human Rights to do this! We want to have a representative committee that includes all the constituencies within AFT Washington, but to do that we need your participation. You are invited to join the Human Rights Committee as an advocate for the Human Rights issues that are important to our members. To join the Human Rights Committee, contact Ray Carrillo, 206-369-4001, rcarrillo@aftwa.org.
AFT Connect: Better Data For A Stronger Union
Connect is AFT’s web-based, secure local data management system. It provides a great way to record individual member data, and so much more!
- Capture detailed employment and employer information about members, prospective members, and retired members of your local.
- Make sure your members can access their union-provided benefits (discounted insurance, home mortgages, travel, goods, and personal services).
- Keep track of changes in member earnings to ensure proper payment of your local’s per capita obligations.
- Manage your local executive board as well as COPE and other local committees.
- Plan outreach to your members and prospects. Have the information you need to conduct mailings, email, phone, and text message outreach via local efforts or using AFT’s communications tools. Record member event attendance and outreach responses.
- Create forms and surveys.
- Track your local’s engagement with and support from Community Allies.
Readily use these features and more through AFT Connect’s dashboard, upload bulk spreadsheet updates of your membership, or let Connect help your local turn data into a powerful outreach and management tool through easy, customizable reports.
Maintaining your local’s membership and leadership information in Connect meets AFT and AFT Washington requirements for your local to remain in good standing.
To get started with AFT Connect, or to request training and other member data support, contact Briseida Sanchez at bsanchez@aftwa.org.
Communications Help Is Available
Is your local not sure how to best use your website? Did you know you can have a free website? Would you like help with figuring out strategies for better communications outreach? Got something for the whole union to hear about? We can help with all of these, and more!
On top of helping your local, we can provide outreach to the union as a whole, through the Pulse and the Union Spotlight. We are actively interested in anything your members are doing, such as workshops or innovative problem solving.
If you have questions about them, want guidance, or are interested in learning more, please contact Cortney Marabetta at cmarabetta@aftwa.org.