Meriden Federation of Teachers

"Having Our Backs Every Step of the Way" Helps Yield Big Gains

Tue, 01/31/2023 - 5:30pm
It is often said that contractual gains cannot be made at the negotiating table alone; they additionally depend on workplace, community and political collective action. This complete formula is particularly important in order to overcome many historical and structural impediments embedded in many fields and industries. In this collective bargaining report, we're highlighting a landmark contract victory where by choosing “Union YES,” members helped resolve some of modern healthcare’s biggest challenges.
 

Lifting Up Labor Leaders and Helping Students Soar

Thu, 06/30/2022 - 5:30pm
More than 100 delegates representing members of AFT Connecticut's affiliated local unions came together in-person for the first time since 2019 for our state federation’s convention. Capping the June 4 event was a luncheon where labor activists who over the previous 12 months lived up to the event's theme of "better days ahead" were recognized. Annual scholarships aimed at helping members and their families beat the rising cost of higher education were also announced.
 

Encouraging Teachers to "Share Your Story" and Celebrate the Profession

Fri, 11/19/2021 - 1:30pm
State and local union leaders are engaging with rank-and-file members in support of a new multi-media project designed to raise educators’ collective public profile. The online platform, "Teachers of Connecticut," was in August launched to amplify the voices of practitioners across the state with an initial series of stories from the classroom. News outlets have since helped further raise public awareness with coverage of featured educators.
 

Giving Voice to "Overwhelmed" Educators

Mon, 05/18/2020 - 3:30pm
A third survey of teachers jointly coordinated by labor and media partners presented a complex picture of distance learning challenges during the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic. The effort was conducted at a critical time, helping guide the work of the official state "re-open" advisory group's education subcommittee. Union members' input ultimately proved instrumental in prioritizing student and staff safety, helping assure that buildings would remain closed for the current school year.
 
Click here for the full survey results.
 

Meeting Members' Workplace Well-Being Needs

Fri, 02/15/2019 - 3:30pm
AFT Connecticut's professional development (PD) department each fall surveys members of affiliated unions to determine the career advancement and labor leadership courses that would be most relevant and beneficial. The feedback drives a program empowering PreK-12 and higher education professionals, nurses and healthcare staff, and state and municipal employees to make tangible improvements in their work lives. Stress reduction and self-care emerged from the latest results as common goals shared by our diverse membership.
 

A National Audience Hears Local Educators' Stories

Wed, 08/16/2017 - 2:30pm
Educators, families and communities are in a "David versus Goliath" battle against powerful special interests seeking to dismantle public education and rip opportunity from children and families. That was the message delivered last month to more than 1,400 teachers, paraprofessionals and school support staff at the biennial AFT TEACH (Together Educating America's Children) conference. Union members from Connecticut were there — and two local leaders shared their political engagement experience and discussed teacher-driven professionalism.
 

Spotlight: Teaching & Protecting Civil Rights

Sat, 01/14/2017 - 10:30am
For the month in which the nation observes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, we're spotlighting union members whose work carries on the social justice leader's legacy. Here in Connecticut, attorneys in the state's civil and human rights enforcement agency strive to confront ongoing discrimination faced by residents. At the same time, local public schools' educators teach their students the history of the movement that Dr. King led — and its relevance to struggles for justice and equality today.
 

Grants to Support Civic Engagement Projects

Thu, 12/01/2016 - 7:30pm
Our national union, along with education and literacy advocacy organizations, earlier this year announced an opportunity for teachers to apply for financial resources for help in resolving community-level problems. When the winning projects in the "Citizen Power Challenge" were announced this fall, a local union member here in Connecticut was among 15 educators who will receive a $500.00 grant.
 

Spotlight: Educators Committed to Attendance "Every Day"

Fri, 09/30/2016 - 3:30pm
Educators, classroom support staff and school social workers know firsthand that for students, a day lost to absenteeism is a day lost to learning. Their concerns were reinforced by a landmark brief released earlier this month on national chronic absence data that reveals the true scope of the problem. As the month set aside to raise awareness of the issue wraps up, we're spotlighting union members devoted to helping students and families understand how achievement is connected to attendance.
 

Professional Learning Grants to Benefit Educators and their Students

Mon, 04/25/2016 - 12:30pm
This year's Fund for Teachers (FFT) grants were announced earlier this month and 118 Nutmeggers were selected to embark on self-designed professional learning odysseys this summer. 2016 "Fellows" from our state are set to receive $475,000 in total funding and represent 37 districts, 76 individual schools and include members of seven AFT Connecticut-affiliated unions.
 
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