October 2022
From the President
Greetings Friends,
Here we are, starting another school year in the context of COVID. Who thought we would still be at the bargaining table negotiating working conditions impacted by the pandemic? Many of you have started your second year of in-person work, while others continue to work mostly remotely. The challenge of meeting workers’ needs while also providing quality education, healthy buildings, and adequate support services is real, even while it looks different in different settings. As I wrote early in the pandemic, the weaknesses in our systems – the digital grand canyon, food insecurity, staff shortages, lack of respect on the job, unaffordable childcare and healthcare – are still illuminated, and some efforts have been made to address them. The digital grand canyon was narrowed and meals at school were available to all. Many of our locals fought for and won meaningful raises – most recently, AFT Kent had a 95% strike authorization vote, resulting in more competitive wages without actually striking!
At the same time, the federal government ended free breakfast and lunch for all students, and decreased communications about the new boosters (if you haven’t gotten yours yet, they are available to all!). Staffing shortages and high turnover are disrupting our ability to meet the needs of students and creating unsustainable workloads, and employers still haven’t figured out how to show that their workers are, in fact, essential. Respect and dignity are in short supply and the reality that the people doing the work, our members, have invaluable insight and knowledge about how to solve problems is remarkably elusive to too many employers.
As we move into this unseasonably (and worrying) warm fall, I’m looking back to see what we can build on moving forward, and I’m looking ahead at the opportunities in front of us. At our 2021 convention, Resolution 2021-01 re-upped our work to organize adjunct faculty. Pay inequity and job precarity have been the reality of adjunct employment for decades, and we’ve kept up a steady effort to address these issues, with some success. This work has been disrupted, but not derailed, by the pandemic and with leadership from Jacqui Cain (VP for Contingent Faculty) and Enrie Marusya (staff support for CFIC), our committee has been unrelenting in their advocacy to improve adjunct working conditions and elevate their collective voice within the union. This work will continue with a two-part Adjuncts Building Community conference on November 18th and February 20th and a legislative proposal for pay equity.
Before we get to January, however, we have elections to win! We need your help with phone banking and canvassing – see the schedule here. I’ll be on the doors in Renton on the 22nd and Gig Harbor on the 29th. Our goal is to have ten members join me – is that you? Thanks to those who have pitched in already to help elect the candidates who value public education and will invest strongly with good policy and dollars.
After the election, we look forward to a brief pause, but the start of the 2023 legislative session is right around the corner and we are preparing now to win on our legislative agenda. We’re working closely with the Communities for Our Colleges coalition for cost-free college and wrap-around services, and the coalition has adopted our priorities of compensation for CTC faculty and staff and part-time pay equity. We have a number of school-related personnel, four-year college faculty, retiree issues, and social justice items in the works, and will likely have our agenda available in our November Pulse.
Building on resolution 2020-04, Becoming an Anti-racist, Inclusive and Unified Union, our executive board had a day-long retreat in September, coming together in-person for the first time since the pandemic began. It was an invigorating day, filled with camaraderie, inspiration and commitment to our union’s mission and vision. Three of our board members, Gillian Reese, Peter Pihos, and David Ortiz, have completed the WSLC certification to present the Race and Labor workshop, a workshop which looks at how racism shows up within the labor movement and the workplace and explores strategies for disrupting it. They are ready to work with you and your local to host a workshop as one strategy for fulfilling our goal of becoming an anti-racist, unified, and inclusive union. Speak to your UOR if you’d like to pursue this opportunity. Three additional leaders are in the process of completing the certification: Annette Stofer, Ines Poblet, and Diane Follet.
We also examined more carefully how we can develop relationships with tribal nations. Part of this is to evaluate practices, policies, and contract language in the workplace, revising them to honor the knowledge, experience, history and contributions of American Indian and Indigenous communities and individuals. Furthermore, we are mindful of the importance of land acknowledgements done intentionally and supported with meaningful action. We shared a number of communications around Indigenous People’s Day, particularly that it is not about Christopher Columbus. In November, we will be highlighting Indigenous traditions related to food, along with reflection on the contributions of Indigenous communities and how we build more inclusive communities that can be home to everyone.
It has been a busy year already! We have big dreams, and it’s the time for bold action on what we truly need and want.
On a final, very exciting note, I want to congratulate April Sims and Cherika Carter who have been elected, unopposed, by acclamation to lead the Washington State labor movement beginning in 2023. They are making history – April as the first person of color elected as president and the first woman to lead the WSLC and together, the first Black women top leaders of a state AFL-CIO, with their respective positions as President and Secretary-Treasurer. They have demonstrated their effective, inclusive and proactive leadership in their current roles as Secretary-Treasurer and Director of Strategic and Political Campaigns and I am excited to work with them to build on the past work of our state labor council and continue building our movement toward greater representation of all workers and equity and belonging in all workplaces and communities. I’ll continue on the WSLC executive board in an at-large vice-president position and am very excited to bring AFT Washington’s work to these leaders. We have long worked closely with the WSLC, and I see a bright future for us all.
We have much work to do to build that future, and I am confident that from our newest local - Whatcom Intergenerational High School - to the labor councils and national unions, we have the leadership and the drive to build towards that future.
In solidarity,
Karen Strickland, President
AFT Kent Classified Members Taking Action To Make Improvements In Their Contract
By Ray Carrillo, Union Organizing Representative
Starting in early summer AFT Kent began to bargain a contract that had the goal of reflecting wages and benefits similar to those at other nearby school districts. As bargaining progressed, this issue became even more pressing: more and more positions were open as bargaining unit employees left for nearby districts that paid more than Kent School District (KSD).
AFT Kent started bargaining before other unions at Kent School District, though there were a number of contracts that expired around the same time. KSD was initially proposing less than the projected implicit price deflator (IPD) for a wage increase when the district was losing employees: this would keep wages low, and out of step with similar jobs at other districts. The AFT Kent leadership called for a strike authorization vote, which passed with 95% in support of striking, and took other actions to utilize our power in the workplace.
AFT Kent was not alone in their frustration at the bargaining table. The Kent Education Association held a strike for nearly two weeks and our members supported their efforts, as did the other unions at Kent School District. Ultimately AFT Kent and KSD were able to reach an agreement that recruits and retains Classified workers at KSD. Please see highlights below:
- New three (3) step salary scale with 4% increases between steps.
- Market adjustments to the wage for hard-to-recruit positions, of up to $4.00 per hour.
- Time and one half for essential personnel who have to come in during school closures.
- New language and protection for members on cameras/electronic surveillance and Drug and Alcohol testing.
- New Covid MOU providing 5 days off for positive tests of an employee or their child.
- Juneteenth holiday added for employees with more than a year at KSD.
Recent PERC decision – Local E-Board Leaders Be Aware
By AFT Washington Staff
Recently our Shoreline Community College Federation of Teachers, 1950 filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) because the employer didn’t provide information in a timely manner during bargaining. The Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) initially upheld the ULP, but upon appeal, reversed their decision and deferred the case to the grievance process, which meant taking it to arbitration. This was a reversal of many years of PERC precedent and the local appealed, eventually seeking the state supreme court’s review. The supreme court did not take up the case so the deferral to arbitration stands, leaving public sector unions vulnerable.
We are sharing guidance with local presidents, but the bottom line is that if your CBA references laws on subjects that PERC rules on and which could be subject to ULPs, we should now expect that PERC will defer such ULPs to the grievance process. Examples of these laws include bargaining in good faith, nondiscrimination for union activity and, as in this case, the right to information. The problem here is that arbitrations are costly, not necessarily based on precedent, and subject to the perspective of the particular arbitrator. Employers may be more inclined to ignore their responsibility, such as providing information in a timely manner, if they know that PERC will defer a ULP to the grievance process.
There are steps you can take to minimize the risk of this becoming problematic for your local; please speak with your UOR to discuss how this may impact your local. Again, we will share the legal brief with local presidents, but it is privileged information and cannot be shared beyond our leadership.
Student Debt Forgiveness - Time Is Running Out To Apply!
By Cortney Marabetta, Communications Specialist
The student debt landscape is getting ever more complicated. We’re here to help.
If you have not applied for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) you have until October 31st to do so. The waiver currently allowing payments that previously did not qualify to count is set to expire on the 31st. If you think you are eligible for PSLF but have not started the process, AFT is recommending you file directly with Federal Student Aid. The debt clinics we are running take you through registering with SUMMER, which is a student-debt-management service you receive as a membership benefit, but you can do that after you file, because right now, time is very short and getting shorter. They also recommend that if you have any doubts about whether you are eligible, file.
We know that a common delay for adjuncts is one where the employer does not affirm your full-time status. If this is your situation, check the box on the application that says “employer refused”. You will get to that box when you file, because the key point to all this is to file!
At the same time, separate from PSLF, there is the $10,000-$20,000 dollars of debt elimination provided by the Biden administration. You can apply for that whether or not you are seeking PSLF forgiveness. In fact, you should apply for it if you have student debt at all; PSLF sometimes does not cover all debt. You do not need to have lots of information on hand to apply. You will need your name, SSN, email address, phone number, and date of birth. It's super easy to apply
Finally, we are seeking responses to a survey we are running regarding PSLF forgiveness. If you have gone through that process, or gotten stuck going through that process, we would like to hear from you so that we can try to make the process smoother for applicants.
Adjuncts Building Community (ABC Mini-Conference: Local Bargaining And Advocacy
By AFT Washington Staff
There are two paths to contingent faculty job security and pay equity: local bargaining and state legislation. Both paths require engagement of your local union's contingent faculty membership. This year's Adjuncts Building Community Conference (ABC) will be split between Fall and Winter Quarters. The first (remote) session will focus on local bargaining and advocacy and will be held on November 18th. The second (in-person in Olympia) session will be an ABC caucus during AFT Washington's Lobby Day, on President's Day 2023.
The target audience of the remote session is two-fold: local leaders of all kinds, and contingent faculty rank-and-file. We intend to talk in-depth about how full-time faculty can be good allies.
Registration is open now. Please share with your adjunct members!
Save the Date! The Struggle To Protect Reproductive Rights and New Organizing
By AFT Washington Staff
The AFT Washington Human Rights Committee is holding an event for Human Rights Day 2022: the Struggle to Protect Reproductive Rights and New Organizing. The event will be held on Saturday, December 10th as a webinar. In the spirit of Human Rights Day, we recommit to the ongoing struggle to uphold human rights and building solidarity across issues, movements and organizations.
More information to come!
It’s Time To Build The Bridge To The Future
AFT Washington is calling on Governor Inslee to understand the working conditions of our members, and that they are the learning conditions of our students. We are calling on the legislature to make significant investments in our state’s CTC system, which is a bridge to the future, connecting our diverse student population with the quality jobs of tomorrow. We have a digital version of the petition to sign here, and your UOR will be working with you to get paper petitions circulating on your campus.
Summertime Solidarity!
AFT Washington had time this summer to stand in solidarity with other unions as we fought together for better working conditions for all! We’ve got a few photos of those events, and a couple from last week’s Labor Neighbor in Bellingham too!
AFT Kent and Kent Educational Association stand in solidarity during KEA's strike. Photo: Ray Carrillo
Some of the many unions represented at a rally calling on Starbucks to stop union busting. Photo credit: Karen Strickland
Enrie Marusya, Jonathan Pottle of TCC and Sophia Rychener formerly of FHSE at the Tumwater Association of Paraprofessionals picket. They reached a TA shortly after the picket! Photo Credit: Andrew Pagan
Members Peter Pihos (who is also on the board) and Daniel Chard at Labor Neighbor in the 42nd District (Bellingham) last weekend. Photo Credit: Peter Pihos
Karen Strickland, President of AFT Washington, and Burt Weston, Retiree Chapter Director, at the Labor Neighbor walk in the 42nd District last weekend. Photo Credit: unknown
AFT Washington's 2023 Convention Is Just Around The Corner
Mark your calendars now for the AFT Washington convention, which will be held May 18-20, 2023! We’ll have much, much more information as we go, but two things to be aware of now are resolutions and board awards. We are particularly encouraging leaders to consider resolutions that you want to bring forward.
If you have any 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. Resolutions can be in support of a constituency — such as last year’s resolution supporting contingent faculty — or for the full state federation, as 2020’s anti-racism resolution is. There are many options in between, and we’ll have more information on them as well very soon.
The board awards are detailed in the Spotlight (which should be to you by next week). They are divided into categories, most of which only union members are eligible for, but the Cesar Chavez Human Rights Award is a special case: that award is for an individual, group, or local who has a mission or vision that embraces human rights and confronts challenges to human rights head on. Be thinking about people you would like to nominate for the awards and talk to your UOR about the process of nomination!
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 Christine Landon at clandon@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.