President's Letter: Facing The Challenges Ahead
It’s hard to believe that it was just about three months ago that I stepped into the role of AFT Washington’s President. People have been asking me how it’s going, and mostly I’m so busy doing the work that I haven’t had time to reflect. So, how is it going?
I started writing this the morning the federal government shut down, and the administration was saying that they are going to send the National Guard into Portland, and we know Seattle is a target too. Closer to home, all the projections coming out from Olympia are that the revenue forecast is grim, and we expect that yet again, higher education will be under attack. We may find ourselves on the defensive to protect our funding, when what we need is investment in our members and our students.
But I am also writing this the day after standing in solidarity with hundreds of our union siblings in WSNA and other unions, at a picket to support nurses bargaining at Seattle Children’s Hospital. I was there with elected representatives and other labor leaders, sending a strong message that the administration’s union busting tactics won’t work. And later the same day, I learned that our affiliate partner at Rutgers, AAUP-AFT, in conjunction with civil rights groups, won a landmark victory for our first amendment rights. The judge stated in his opinion that the case was "perhaps the most important ever to fall within the jurisdiction of this district court."
So, how are we doing? We are forging relationships, fighting back, and building momentum for whatever comes next.
Since I took office, I have been in weekly meetings focusing on the upcoming legislative session where we are all facing a frankly dire budget forecast. But we are strategizing with our team, and other labor organizations, to preserve funding for education and elevate the issues of our members. We’ve been talking to legislators, urging them to hold the line and not cut our schools’ funding. We’ve got more to come, including our full legislative agenda and ways to get involved, soon – keep an eye out! Highlights include our stance that DEI efforts must be protected and revenue must be increased, our demands of respect for our school related personnel and pay parity for contingent faculty, to thinking about how AI is impacting our working conditions and how we can ensure workers have dignified retirement. Throughout our agenda, we are collaborating with members and partners, and listening to your priorities and concerns.
But that is not the only way we’re doing all the things I mentioned above. So far this year, two new units have said Union YES! and organized new locals. Welcome Renton School District Athletic Coaches and Whatcom Community College professional exempt staff! Both recently negotiated their first contracts and will be getting their local numbers from AFT soon – welcome, we are stronger with you in our union family!
None of this progress would be possible without the incredible commitment of AFT Washington staff, Executive Board members, and local leaders stepping into new roles. And our members! Across the state, members are rising to the moment. We now have a full Executive Board, participation in standing committees is increasing, a growing ad-hoc mobilization committee is building a network of activists, and a new task force is taking shape to fight for greater job security for contingent faculty. This is what it looks like when we stand in solidarity and take action together.
Last spring, our members showed the power of collective action with record turnout for May 1st and No Kings Day. Estimates were that 75,000 people rallied in Seattle and Olympia alone. That was only the beginning. More No Kings Day actions are scheduled for October 18th, and we expect even stronger participation.
And it feels different this fall. We have a deeper sense of urgency—but also a stronger sense of possibility. We have faced a lot, from the individual school to the federal levels, and while no one would claim we’re out of the woods and on a solid footing with our schools’ funding and our democracy assured, it’s clear that things are starting to turn around. Which is, of course, the power of solidarity and possibility. When we act together, the work feels less overwhelming and more achievable.
I know that most of you have a plan for No Kings Day. And I am optimistic that we’ll be able to report out that we again made progress towards the goal of having 3.5% of the population turn out for non-violent demonstrations, so we can change the path that the administration wants to take our nation down. I am asking you now to make another plan. A plan to stand strong with your coworkers and union siblings to defend higher education, for our students, our state, and our democracy. A plan … to get to Olympia on Monday, February 16th to engage with AFT Washington’s Lobby Day.
To turn words into action and protect education funding, we need the largest turnout in our union’s history. Every member wearing a blue shirt in the Capitol makes a difference. Imagine the impact when legislators look out and see a room filled with AFT members in blue, packed shoulder-to-shoulder, demanding respect for education and labor rights.
And that is why, when people ask me, “How are we doing?” I can answer optimistically and confidently, “we are standing together and building our power, and we’re ready to face the challenges ahead.”