Politics

Resisting a Deceptive, Anti-Union Agenda

Wed, 08/31/2022 - 3:30pm
Escalating attempts by billionaire-bankrolled local front groups to undermine Connecticut's labor movement are falling flat and destined for failure. That's the message AFT Connecticut President Jan Hochadel (right, in photo below) delivered in a recent letter to the editor of CT Examiner. She flunked a mouthpiece who in a previous published letter carried water for "shadowy, dark money-funded front groups with an agenda opposed to working peoples' interests:"
 

Offering Simple Lessons in Public School Finance

Fri, 07/08/2022 - 12:30pm
AFT Connecticut Field Representative Ed Leavy brings his experience in public education and labor activism to a wider audience in a recent nationally-published commentary. He delves into the deep disparities in our state public schools' funding, exposing a wide chasm between wealthy communities and cities struggling with poverty. Leavy's analysis serves as a warning of an approaching tipping point that "will become impossible to ignore:"
 

Resisting a Right-Wing Take-Over of Public Ed

Tue, 08/31/2021 - 5:30pm
Municipal elections provide union households the opportunity to impact employment and educational policies in their community’s schools. This basic civic responsibility in 2021 takes on added urgency; deep-pocketed special interests are funding local candidates to carry out extremist agendas. Members stepping up to demonstrate that “labor is your neighbor” provide a path forward this fall for defending educators' hard-fought gains and children’s future learning opportunities.
 

Mobilizing Because "We Can't Afford to Sit on the Sidelines"

Mon, 05/24/2021 - 6:30pm
Union activists in the final stretch of the 2021 legislative session have escalated efforts to urge better choices while lawmakers and the governor deliberate over a biennial state budget. Among those leading the charge are state employees who have experienced firsthand the negative consequences of decades of failed austerity policies. They have over the past month amplified earlier demands to embrace a "recovery for all" approach by engaging in collective action.
 

Speaking Out for Essential Workers Who Risked it All

Fri, 03/26/2021 - 1:30pm
Local and state union activists and leaders earlier this month turned-out in record numbers to advocate for themselves and fellow frontliners impacted by the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) crisis. The occasion was a legislative public hearing held by the Connecticut General Assembly's committee that oversees employment policies and practices. Joined by members of allied labor organizations, they took a strong stand to demand restitution for their sacrifices and preparation for the next pandemic.
 

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."
 

Comments on Protests for Justice Following Murder of George Floyd

Wed, 06/03/2020 - 10:00am
AFT Connecticut President Jan Hochadel today made the following public remarks in response to demonstrations across the state and country demanding accountability for last week’s police killing in Minneapolis:
 

Teachers, Nurses and Public Employees Back Fanelli and Walker for West Haven

Thu, 09/05/2019 - 12:00pm
West Haven — Members of the nearly 30,000-strong AFT Connecticut are supporting fellow union members Chrystal Fanelli and Susan Walker in West Haven's September 10 Democratic Primary Election. The labor federation's executive committee last month voted to add both active and retired educators to its slate of 2019 municipal endorsements. Members of local affiliated unions have since participated community canvassing and phone banking to help "get out the vote" for Fanelli, Walker and other endorsed candidates.
 

"Winning a Better Future for More Working People"

Tue, 07/30/2019 - 5:30pm
Veteran labor activists in both the private and the public sectors will attest to significant challenges in winning initial and first successor union contracts. AFT Connecticut-affiliated locals secured such collective bargaining agreements, arbitration awards and memoranda of understanding over the past three months. We're highlighting two of these important victories, which demonstrated how member engagement and internal organizing can overcome steep obstacles and make meaningful gains.
 

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."
 
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