From the President
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.
This is yet another reminder of the devastation wreaked by the climate crisis and, painfully, we know we will see more, whether in the form of fire, hurricane, tornado or flooding. The politicization of this disaster, e.g. Republicans suggesting that federal aid will come “with strings attached,” is abhorrent. Speaker Johnson and President-elect Trump are more interested in blaming Democrats for fabricated failure than actually addressing climate disasters fairly and the larger problem of climate change as a whole with meaningful and substantial policy. Johnson lacks the courage to make his position on climate change known because he knows he’ll be thrown to the curb by his Republican friends, and Trump would rather act like a tough guy, trivializing the climate crisis by quoting - wait for it - Sarah Palin parroting her “drill baby drill” proclamation as he promises to reverse the ban on offshore oil drilling. That’s the kind of “leadership” we have to prepare to defend against and defeat!
Meanwhile, here in Washington we are extremely disappointed by Governor Ferguson’s budget priorities, which he announced last week. He wants to make small investments in PreK-12 education, says nothing about Community and Technical Colleges except that he doesn’t want to make cuts, and suggests a 3% cut to four-year colleges and universities. He also proposes a 6% cut to most state agencies. This is not what we expected. I was in my 15th year of teaching at Seattle Central when the great recession occurred and just about every year before that came with some kind of budget crisis at the college or in the legislature. But the recession felt different, and this current legislative climate feels something like that. But there’s one enormous difference. In 2008, the economy was not booming. Lots of people lost their jobs, retirement accounts plummeted and employers across the spectrum saw significant drops in revenue. But today? Washington’s economy is booming, rich people are getting richer, and corporate profits just keep growing. But instead of planning for strengthening our schools, colleges and communities, we are hearing of potential program closures, hiring freezes, and miniscule allowable price tags for legislation to have any chance at passing.
We have a saying in the labor movement: sometimes the boss is the best organizer. What that means is that sometimes, when people in positions of power go too far in ways that harm us, we say enough is enough! This can’t stand!! We want and we deserve better than this!!! And we take action.
The good news is that Ferguson has signaled that if the Legislature sends him the wealth tax outlined in Inslee’s proposed agenda, he won’t veto it, and that’s important – that means our job is to move the legislators. Our legislative agenda is a robust one, and that is by necessity; our members can’t wait until 2030 or later for substantial improvements in wages. It’s week one and we’ve had several members testify in committee hearings. Our members will be in Olympia to advocate for what we need throughout this month, in February at Lobby Day, throughout March and probably right up to the end of the session in April. We’ll be emailing and calling our legislators to make sure they know who we are and what we need.
My question to you is: how can you contribute? Can we count on you on Monday, January 20th when we join our Communities for Our Colleges allies? How about the 27th at our multi-union reception to elevate school-related personnel? Or February 17, our big Lobby Day?
A higher-than-average percentage of our membership votes, and that’s terrific. And that’s just the first step of participating in our democracy. To make sure our democracy thrives, each one of us needs to take that next step, whether it’s joining your union family in Olympia, letting your legislators know what is important to you with an email or a phone call, or sharing your view in a hearing on a bill that matters to you. (If you aren’t seeing those opportunities, sign up for the Legisletter, our newsletter on all things political, here.)
I’ve painted a picture of Olympia more dire than we’re accustomed to, but I am confident that with continuous member involvement throughout the legislative session we can make progress. The federal picture presents greater threats, and we don’t know just yet how those will materialize. We have provided information and guidance, for example resources in the last issue of the Pulse and this issue that address threats to immigrants, and we’ll continue to do so; we also need for you to share concerns that arise in your workplaces. These could be policy or program changes, a threat to federal funds, closure of DEI programs, or changes in Title IX procedures, for example.
I am not known for spending a lot of time in a pessimistic frame of mind. Even now, after writing a real “downer” of a column, my thoughts are drawn to what drives my hopeful optimism – the truth is that the labor movement was born of hardship and struggle…it is why we exist. We have a lot to do in these next few years to ensure that our rights as working people are strengthened, not weakened; that our centers, schools and colleges are funded so we can fully meet the needs of students and families, not just make do with inadequate resources; that our communities thrive, not merely survive. Fortunately for us, we stand on the shoulders of those who faced even greater challenges and who went all in. We’ve got this, so let’s do this!
In solidarity,
Karen Strickland, President
Local Highlights & News
Union And Community: Meeting The Moment - Convention Updates
By Cortney Marabetta, Communications Specialist
As noted last month, on May 17th and 18th, we will convene in Tacoma at the Murano Hotel for the 85th Biennial Convention! Our theme is Union And Community: Meeting The Moment, and we look forward to seeing that theme in action as we come together as a union to set our direction for the next two years.
This also means it’s time to start thinking about whether you or someone in your local is interested in running for a seat on the AFT Washington Executive Board, about resolutions your local or constituency would like to bring, and about nominations for the AFT Washington Board Awards. Read on for more details on all of these.
If you have questions about specifics, please contact Chris Chapek at cchapek@aftwa.org.
Nominations for the AFT Washington Executive Board
The AFT Washington Executive Board nomination forms are now live! You must receive nominations from 10 members in good standing and specify the role you are seeking; the people nominating you can sign a paper form you can download here or a digital form linked here, whichever is more convenient. Nominations are due to the AFT Washington office by Saturday, April 26th.
The duties of the board and election information are outlined in the bylaws. Article V covers the composition of the board, the duties of the officers, and the length of term. Article VI addresses the nominations and elections process in more detail.
Resolutions
Now is the time to think about resolutions you would like to bring forward to the convention. Resolutions guide our work for the two years following the convention and provide a framework for goals we would like to achieve as a federation. Resolutions can be in support of a constituency, such as the 2023 resolutions supporting retirees, school-related personnel, or contingent faculty, or for the full state federation, as with 2023’s resolution calling for better relationships with Washington’s native tribes. There are also many options in between! If you have questions about whether your idea is suitable for a resolution, talk to your UOR! They can help you turn your idea into a strong resolution that will guide our work.
You can view the 2023 Resolutions here. Resolutions for 2025 are due to the AFT Washington office by Saturday, April 26th.
Board Awards
AFT Washington recognizes the important work members do for our locals, our communities, and the labor movement. It is the strength, dedication, and commitment by each one of us toward creating better working conditions and communities that makes us collectively powerful.
To this end, the annual AFT Washington Executive Board’s Awards are an opportunity for leaders, members, and staff to honor this work by nominating peers who exemplify the various award categories. Established awards honor individuals, locals, and other groups; you can see more information about them here. Nominations for the Board Awards are due to the AFT Washington office by Monday, March 31st.
Immigration Defense Resources
By Cortney Marabetta, Communications Specialist
AFT Washington and the AFT are committed to social justice and human rights in our communities. This includes the right to a safe education, one of the fundamental pillars of the Declaration of International Human Rights.
With that in mind, we have made updates to some of the documents we provided in December.
As a note, you’re able to access any information or documents shared through the Pulse on our website, under News. We do not generally remove information unless it becomes outdated and is replaced.
- Immigration Tip Sheet: Information to guide your local’s planning in the event of deportation arrests or actions on or near your campus. Also includes links to more resources through immigrant-serving organizations.
- Immigration Know Your Rights: What you need to know about the rights of immigrants and the threat of deportation.
- Raid Emergency Plan: How to create a family immigration raid emergency plan.
Join Us For The School-Related Personnel Reception in Olympia!
By Cortney Marabetta, Communications Specialist
This month, AFT Washington and our partners in the RESPECT campaign fighting for wage and staffing improvements for our school-related personnel are inviting legislators to meet with members at a reception in Olympia. This is your chance to talk directly with legislators who want to hear your concerns in an informal setting. Last year's event was a lot of fun, and we got plenty of feedback that legislators and members enjoyed talking with each other.
We'd love for you to join us this year! The reception will be held Monday, January 27th, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Heritage Room in Olympia. Register here!
If you have any questions about this event, please contact Richard Burton at rburton@aftwa.org.
Digital Membership Cards - Phase 2
By Cortney Marabetta, Communications Specialist
We reported in the October Pulse about the AFT Digital Membership cards that launched at AFT’s convention in July. AFT is now moving into Phase 2 of the project, and has announced the arrival of cobranded membership cards!
To implement Phase 2, AFT is looking for large locals who want to partner with AFT on this project. The cobranded cards would identify both the national union and the local. This project is most suited to large locals.
There is no direct cost for cobranded cards, but AFT does ask that member records for participating locals be kept up to date. As they note, AFT pays a very small fee for each card downloaded and the best way to keep the costs reasonable is by keeping those lists updated.
If you are interested, contact Tish Olshefski at tolshefs@aft.org and let her know your local is interested. Once they’ve completed the sample designs, you will be given the option to pick one and provide a local logo, and your local’s digital cards are ready to go!
The Covenant Homeownership Program
By Cortney Marabetta, Communications Specialist
In July of 2024, Washington state launched and funded a new program called the Covenant Homeownership program. This program helps low-income homebuyers statewide whose families have been harmed by racial discrimination in housing. The Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC) established four eligibility criteria for the Covenant Homeownership program:
- Household income at or below 100% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
- First-time homebuyer
- The homebuyer or a parent/grandparent/great-grandparent lived in Washington state before April 1968
- The person who lived in Washington before April 1968 is Black, Hispanic, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Korean or Asian Indian.
Eligible applicants can receive mortgage assistance in the form of interest-free loans of up to $150,000 for down payments and closing costs. Such loans do not need to be repaid until the homeowner sells or refinances the property.
If you or members in your local would be eligible for this program, you can learn more at the Washington Homeownership Resource Center.
Working Families Tax Credit
By Cortney Marabetta, Communications Specialist
Applications for the 2024 Working Families Tax Credit open on February 1st! This credit is a tax refund that helps Washington workers and their families get more back at tax time by refunding a portion of sales tax paid each year. It’s modeled after the federal Earned Income Tax Credit program.
The purpose of the Working Families Tax Credit is to stimulate the local economy, promote racial equity, and support the financial stability and well-being of low-to-moderate income Washington residents and their families. The program is managed by the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR), the state’s tax administration agency. The department is a proud member of the Washington Economic Justice Alliance.
Learn more and find out if you or your members qualify on the program’s website.
Union Tips & Reminders
Registration Is Open For Lobby Day 2025!
February 17th, 2025
It's time to go to Olympia and lobby legislators on our key priorities for the 2025 session! Our priorities include:
- Pressing to resolve the crisis in staffing, safety, and inadequate salaries for preK-12 School Related Personnel.
- Working for substantial salary improvements for contingent faculty.
- Seeking pay increases for professional non-exempt staff in our colleges.
- Working with Communities for our Colleges, pressing to make two-year colleges free for our students and creating pathways to work for undocumented college students.
- Working for increased progressive revenue.
We will join with colleagues, meet with legislators, and push for progressive change. Light breakfast and lunch will be provided, and transportation will be coordinated.
If this is your first time going to Lobby Day, or you’d like a refresher, you will receive information about optional “meet your legislator” trainings in your confirmation email.
Register here.
Communities For Our Colleges Lobby Day
Join the Communities for Our Colleges coalition for 2025 Days of Action at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia! C4C is holding an event on Monday, January 20th, 2025, MLK Day. We will make our voices heard and demand:
- First two years of college free for all
- Employment opportunities for undocumented students
- Fully funded benefit hubs
- Pay equity for part time faculty
The day's agenda includes a training session to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to advocate effectively, a spirited rally to amplify our message, and valuable meetings with elected officials where you can directly influence policy decisions.
Register here. (Note that there is an option to register for a second C4C Lobby Day on President's Day; if you are interested in attending AFT Washington's Lobby Day on President's Day, register at our link above.)
Advanced Treasurer’s Training
Saturday, February 8th, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
This advanced treasurer’s training is designed to build on best practices and key elements to assist as you progress in your leadership role.
The Financial Training module will focus on: importance of timely tax filing; best practices in record-keeping; internal auditing; and per capita payments. The Data Management Training module focuses on: A review of Connect basics; member management, organizing functions, and best practices.
Please note that if you do not yet have a Connect account, you may want one to follow along more closely for this training. Instructions on how to request one are included on the registration form. It may take 5-10 business days for approval, so don't wait until the last minute!
Worksite Representative Training
Tuesday, January 21st, 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Whether you are called a union steward, building rep, officer, executive board member, we all want to do our best to represent our members. During this training you will learn the importance of engaging our membership, building our power inside and outside of the worksite, and enforcing our contract.
Register here.
Contract Enforcement & Grievance Training
Wednesday, January 29th, 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Our Collective Bargaining Agreements are one of the cornerstones of having a powerful local. A contract that is enforced makes a big difference in how our union and our members are treated in the workplace. This training will cover the ins and outs of filing grievances, unfair labor practices, duties of union leaders, and how we make sure that management does what the contract says they will do. Please plan on attending the entirety of the training and have your local’s contract available for reference.
Register here.
The AFT Washington Retiree Chapter Needs You!
At the 2023 AFT Washington convention, delegates unanimously adopted Resolution 2023-04, “Organized Retirees For Action”. The AFT Washington Retiree Chapter, local 8045R, has been working on developing a strategic plan and establishing an organizing team to carry out the goals established in the resolution. This is where you come in!
The Retiree Chapter is calling on local leaders to do two things to support this resolution.
- Appoint a retiree from your local to serve as a representative and advisor to the Retiree Chapter.
- Work with AFT Washington and AFT National to grant authorization to move identified retired members in your local’s Connect database account to the Retiree Chapter’s Connect account.
A flyer about this is available here. An organized retiree chapter is a powerful force, but it’s too easy to lose track of our retired members. Help us grow the chapter and build our retiree power!
If you have questions about the project, please contact Richard Burton at rburton@aftwa.org or at 206-225-0621.
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.