Connecticut Technical High School System

Resisting "More Calls for Austerity, Year After Year"

Fri, 02/26/2021 - 1:30pm
Labor activists earlier this year began collaborating with community organizations to help fellow residents recover from the economic fall-out of the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic. That led to the formation of a new coalition, "Recovery for All," initially focused on securing a state budget in the General Assembly's 2021 legislative session that puts people first. AFT Connecticut is a full partner in these efforts, and is mobilizing members to move lawmakers and the governor to "do better."
 

Securing a Vaccination Plan to Benefit Our Schools

Mon, 02/22/2021 - 4:50pm
Unions representing teachers and support personnel, superintendents and parents today are thanking state officials for adopting their proposed parallel vaccination plan presented last week for Connecticut’s school communities. The Board of Education (BOE) Union Coalition's recommendations were included in directives announced this afternoon by Governor Ned Lamont. 
 
Click here for the coalition's letter to the governor.
 

Calling for Uniform School Quarantine Policies

Tue, 01/12/2021 - 5:00pm
Board of Education (BOE) Union Coalition leaders are urging Governor Ned Lamont create a clear, uniform policy regarding how school districts should handle quarantines and leaves in our public schools. Labor leaders in a January 8 letter said that too many districts are not following procedures established by health experts for responding to COVID-19 exposures. Those local school officials are jeopardizing the health and safety of their communities and the success of their students.
 
Click here for the coalition’s letter to the governor.
 

"No Going Back to Normal" in 2021

Mon, 01/04/2021 - 2:20pm
When I accepted a Connecticut People’s World Committee "Amistad Award" last month, I began my remarks by recognizing our members. They are the ones who are out there fighting the good fights and making — as Congressman John Lewis would have said — "good trouble." I credited our educators and school support staff, nurses and healthcare workers, higher education professionals and public employees who have done amazing things over this past year.
 

Educators Take to the Streets in Coordinated "Safety First" Car Caravan Rallies

Thu, 07/30/2020 - 6:00pm
From Stamford to Stonington, Hamden to Hartford, and more than two dozen towns in between, teachers, education personnel, students, parents and advocates today joined school "Safety First" car caravans. The purpose was to demand safety and health precautions — and much-needed funding — in Connecticut public school building reopening plans. 
 
Click here for video coverage of several actions.
 

CT's Students, their Families and Educators Need a Lifeline, Not an Anchor

Mon, 06/29/2020 - 8:00pm
Today Connecticut Education Association (CEA) President Jeff Leake and AFT Connecticut President Jan Hochadel released the following joint statement regarding the state education department's plan for reopening school buildings:
 
 

Reminding Politicians Union Members Already "Saved the State Billions"

Wed, 06/17/2020 - 5:30pm
The news media last week thrust state employees' contractual benefits into the spotlight following Governor Ned Lamont's public remarks at his daily COVD-19 (novel coronavirus) briefing. His comments further renewed attempts by Republican legislators to push for unlawfully breaking collective bargaining agreements. Elected officials have clearly forgotten the significant labor savings already shoring up the state budget — and must adopt better policy choices than more concessions from union households.
 

Anxiety and Trauma Top Challenges Facing Students, Survey Finds

Wed, 02/19/2020 - 6:30pm
HARTFORD - Connecticut is ranked among the best states in the country for K-12 education; however, findings from a new 2020 CEA/AFT CT/WFSB survey should raise alarms. Teachers increasingly find themselves in unsafe work environments, encountering more children impacted by trauma or anxiety, and dealing with a persistent shortage of school counselors, social workers and other supports necessary for their students.
 
Click here for an executive summary of the results.
 

Safeguarding Public Structures and Taxpayer Dollars

Wed, 01/08/2020 - 6:30pm
The Office of the State Comptroller (OCS) in late December issued the first annual analysis of public employee union members' 2017 agreement to protect jobs and preserve services. Among the key findings; the pact has already netted nearly two billion for Connecticut's treasury. State employees three years ago exercised their collective bargaining rights to lay the groundwork for a projected long-term savings of over $24 billion.
 
Click here for the OSC's SEBAC 2017 agreement report.
 

Swearing-In Leaders Committed to a Union that's "Still Growing"

Mon, 07/22/2019 - 5:30pm
Leaders elected by delegates to AFT Connecticut's annual convention were last week officially sworn in to the offices they will hold through June of 2021. While most are continuing in positions they previously held, there were notable exceptions — including changes in secretary-treasurer as well as two jurisdictional and five at-large vice presidents (VP). All have track records within their local affiliates that demonstrate the strength of the "U and I in Union."
 
Syndicate content