The Pulse

As is always the case, there is a lot going on. I’m happy to report that our two bills, ESSB 5847 (Public Service Loan Forgiveness) and SB 5539 (healthcare funding for Head Start members) are headed to the Governor’s desk and we have every reason to trust that they’ll be signed. These bills represent significant gains for our members; our Advocacy Team worked smart and hard to get them passed. I especially want to mention HyeEun Park and Anna-Marie Magdalena, brand new members of the team, who were unrelenting in our push for the win. The strength of our relationships is core to a successful legislative session, and this year we made the most of those relationships. We tapped into our labor siblings, partnered with the employer of our Head Start members, co-conspired with the Student Borrower Protection Center and AFT staff, and engaged our membership to speak to legislators and in hearings. We turned over every stone we could find to win in Olympia.

The new year is right around the corner, offering the opportunity to reflect on the last year. Given that we’re approaching the two-year mark of the COVID pandemic, I’m finding myself reflecting on the last two years and experiencing an array of feelings ranging from fatigue to inspiration, worry to optimism. I suspect I’m not alone in that. Together, the leaders, members and staff of AFT Washington have navigated remarkable challenges and seized opportunities, both expected and unexpected. Think back to March 13th, 2020, when we learned that schools and colleges were shutting down, restaurants closed their doors, and we suddenly cut off most social interactions. Over the course of the following months, we adapted to the circumstances of the moment, then shifted gears to adapt to new circumstances, and then shifted again, and again, and again. Some number of locals were in bargaining nonstop, including regular contract bargaining, impacts of closure and mandated vaccine bargaining, nurse educator and high demand faculty bargaining and other subjects. Legislation, proclamations, and an unpredictable economy made for a Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride experience. These were challenges that we collectively turned into opportunities to mobilize our members, forge cross-union alliances, and improve wages and working conditions.

Greetings Friends, Will student loan debt soon become a thing of the past? For the eight AFT members who joined Randi Weingarten in a lawsuit against Betsy DeVos and the DOE, their debt is a thing of the past! The settlement in the lawsuit included discharge of the plaintiff’s debt and a review of all applications for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program previously rejected. This is a huge victory with a significant impact on our members who are carrying student loan debt. (If that’s you, Summer may be able to help.) At our workshop on student loan debt last week, we heard the stories of several of our members whose lives are constrained by debt. Anitra, a paraeducator, wants to continue her education and earn her B.A. but is daunted by the debt she holds from her A.A. degree. Discharge of that debt would be a big first step toward her goal. Paul is retired and prior to the workshop anticipated he’d pay off his debt at the age of 80…the PSLF rule changes suggest some of his debt will be discharged much sooner.

Greetings Friends, The 2021-2022 school year is fully under way and the 2022 legislative session is right around the corner. The demands on you as union leaders and educators have been unrelenting since March 2020 and I want to express my deepest gratitude to you for the creative problem solving, solidarity, and commitment to the social contract you have demonstrated during this challenging time. I want to acknowledge our staff as well, who have maintained high expectations around our members’ rights as workers and the education and supports our students deserve. Although many people are struggling and suffering, we have seen substantial gains. Just yesterday substantial changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program were announced, making the program finally accessible to 550,000 borrowers! We’ll be hosting an interactive virtual event in early November on the subject of student loan debt – we need to make sure every one of our members knows about these changes and the resources they can access to improve their personal economy.