AFT 2016 National Convention

Labor Day 2016: Why America Needs a Strong Movement for Working People

Our national union president in her annual Labor Day message reminds us how a strong labor movement has helped workers, our communities, the economy and our democracy grow and thrive. Randi Weingarten additionally uses the occasion to call on all our members to join her in taking action to support policies that make it easier, not harder, to join a union:
 

Fighting Forward for Patients, Celebrating Our "Everyday Hero"

Delegates from across the nation last month at our national union's biennial convention took action on several key resolutions designed to help improve the quality of patient care in America. The event also featured a highlight with special meaning for the nearly 100 members attending from Connecticut; the presentation of AFT's "Everyday Heroes" award to one of our very own.
 

Our Union Members are "Everyday Heroes"

AFT is made up of amazing teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel, higher education faculty and staff, nurses and healthcare professionals, state employees, early childhood educators and retirees. Our national union every two years recognizes some of these "Everyday Heroes" and three members of local unions in AFT Connecticut have been selected as semifinalists for their 2016 awards.
 
Click here to cast your vote for Connecticut's nominees.
 

Honoring Our Past, Inspiring Our Future

Ninety-nine years ago today, on May 9, 1916, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) was founded in Chicago, when eight local unions were granted a charter signed by American Federation of Labor (AFL) President Samuel Gompers. Leading up to AFT's national convention in 2016, we will spend the next year looking back on our rich history -- our struggles, our accomplishments, our proudest moments -- and celebrating how far we have come and what lies ahead.
 
Click here to watch a brief promo of AFT's 100th anniversary celebration.
 
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