The Department of Ed is not Linda McMahon’s personal plaything where she gets to decide what legally mandated functions stay or go or whether spending is allocated or not—and yet she repeatedly acts like it www.aft.org/press-releas...

From cutting summer school and after school programs last June, to deep Medicaid and SNAP cuts, to now gutting community school grants in the middle of a school year, McMahon’s actions are hurting young people and increasing stress and anxiety for thousands of families. www.aft.org/press-releas...

Today we filed a lawsuit against the Dept of Ed's abrupt & unlawful decision to stop millions of $$ in funding 4 Full-Service Community Schools in the middle of approved, multi-year projects-projects that give students tutoring and after school & health care at school. www.aft.org/press-releas...

The WSJ is spot on when it comes to the modern voc schools-they are called Career & Tech Ed now. I've been advocating for CTE programs for years. Students are engaged and excited and learn the skills they need to succeed. I'm glad to see others recognize the value of CTE www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...

Educators have seen this first hand. These screens are harmful. When they're out of schools, students engage with each other and have a better learning environment. www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...

Happy Kwanzaa to our members, your families, and your communities!

Happy Holidays from HFT! @texasaft.org @aft.org

❤️ 💚 ✨ We're wishing you and your family a merry Christmas! ❤️ 💚 🎄

Nurses at Seattle Children’s Hospital voted overwhelmingly Dec. 22 to authorize a strike. Check out coverage in @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social, @komo4.bsky.social and @kiro7seattle.bsky.social. List of coverage available at wsna.org/news/media-coverage

From “9 to 5” to the Imagination Library 📚🎶 This lesson helps students explore Dolly Parton’s impact on labor history, literacy, public health & kindness, & what it means to use influence for good. https://sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/dolly-parton-global-changemaker @aft.org @sari.bsky.social

Good! The president doesn’t have the authority to deploy the National Guard to Illinois. It’s a big win that shows this administration cannot ignore state and federal laws. www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

Tell your members of Congress to pass the Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals Act to help address the affordability crisis we’ve seen for decades in higher education and give students the resources they need to pursue careers in fields like nursing and teaching. actionnetwork.org/letters/dont...

Reminder that we are NOT crossing the Starbucks picket line this holiday season- and I'm looking at you last minute gift buyers, NO STARBUCKS GIFTCARDS!

Nurses at Seattle Children’s hospital have voted to authorize a strike, following about seven months of negotiations that have stalled over higher pay, sick leave and rest and meal breaks. @wsna.bsky.social

Solidarity is a verb 📣📣  Tonight, the Anoka-Hennepin community showed up to tell the district it’s time to invest in the schools students deserve. TAKE ACTION: bit.ly/494K0Fw #AHEMStrong #UnitedWeWin

Anoka-Hennepin educators have voted overwhelmingly to strike for a fair contract that delivers the wages and healthcare benefits they deserve. No one wants a strike. I hope the school board comes to an agreement that puts the needs of schools and students first. www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/ne...

These nurses deserve a fair contract that ensures patient safety, nurses’ rights, compensation for nurses injured by workplace violence, and the union's strength. I hope the hospital will avoid a strike by agreeing to a fair contract. www.wsna.org/news/2025/se... @wsna.bsky.social

If the hospital does not come forward with a fair contract, the bargaining team will seek approval from the WSNA Labor Executive Council to give the hospital 10 days' notice of a strike, as required by law. WSNA is the union representing 2,100 registered nurses at Seattle Children's Hospital.

Nurses at Seattle Children’s Hospital voted overwhelmingly Monday to authorize a strike. Electronic voting ended at 1 p.m. with a vast majority of nurses voting. The voting results came as nurses were sharing their proposal with the hospital.

“We don’t want a labor dispute. We don’t want to strike. We want a fair contract that protects nurses’ legal rights, ensures patient safety, compensates nurses injured by workplace violence, and maintains the union strength that has made this institution exceptional.” @wsna.bsky.social

Braving freezing temperatures and gusting winds, the Alaska Nurses Association protested staffing cuts that heighten safety risks and threaten quality of care. The union is committed to standing up and speaking out for patient safety. www.aft.org/news/alaska-...

💸 Two-thirds of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. This isn’t an abstract number. It represents real people facing pressure every day. Make your voice heard with our survey. www.surveymonkey.com/r/GMYTBZ7

"The fear is real." @thefireorg.bsky.social @aaup.org

😄

On Dec. 17, @reptimkennedy.bsky.social introduced the Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals (LEAP) Act, legislation aimed at restoring fairness in federal student lending for individuals pursuing advanced degrees in critical service professions.

Over the past year we've faced rising prices, attacks on public ed, and assaults on the rule of law. But along the way, Americans have stood up to say, "Not on my watch." In her new column, @aft.org President @rweingarten.bsky.social shares her gratitude for the helpers. www.aft.org/column/grati...

Looking for diverse children’s books for PreK–5? 📖This curated collection includes free resources to support inclusive early literacy and meaningful classroom conversations. Explore the collection: https://sharemylesson.com/collections/diverse-childrens-books-prek-5 @aft.org @aftteach.bsky.social

In my new column, I express my gratitude for the helpers—those rejecting the cruelty, corruption and instability of this administration. Instead of giving up and giving in, countless Americans have stood up and declared, "Not on my watch." Read it here⤵️ www.aft.org/column/grati...

When this administration cuts support to public schools, it's those most in need who are hurt the worst. Rural schools rely more heavily on federal funds—when that disappears, important programs get cut, teachers are out of a job & students are left worse off. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Explore affordable long-term care coverage with the AFT's exclusive partnership with Back Nine Planning. AFT members and their families benefit from expert guidance, personalized rate quotes, and discounted rates not available to the public. www.aft-ltc.org

@rweingarten.bsky.social’s new column expresses gratitude for the helpers in our communities—those who fight for a better life for all. "You, the helpers, give me immense hope that together we can reclaim that promise of America and build a better future for everyone." www.aft.org/column/grati...

@rweingarten.bsky.social and @proftwolf.bsky.social statement on rushed and opaque appointment process for new University of Virginia president: "This undermines the legitimacy of today’s appointment that will continue to be challenged in the coming months." www.aft.org/press-releas...

Every week, educators and school communities show us what imagination, care, and opportunity look like in action. Here are 4 #PublicSchoolProud stories that inspired us this week.

Another great conversation w/@momsrising.org @rowefinkbeiner.bsky.social about why care is central to the economic measurements we currently count (ie. GDP) and the ones we should count (ie. family wellbeing). Read more here by @tcfdotorg.bsky.social and @caringacross.org tcf.org/content/repo...

Facing a legal issue? Our affordable annual legal plan covers 80+ legal matters and costs just $22.95/month. Act fast: special pricing ends 1/19/2026. Enroll Now: unionplus.click/213

The American Academy of Pediatrics denounces the federal government's "baseless intrusion into the patient-physician relationship." www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

To our educators, healthcare professionals and public employees: You faced down incredible challenges this year with grace and grit. Thank you for fighting for our schools, our hospitals, our communities and our future. Wishing you a season filled with peace, love and solidarity. 🎁🕯️

In her Weekly Report, @rweingarten.bsky.social discusses recent gun violence & families feeling the economic pinch. But she shares a message of hope—when we organize, we rise. AFT welcomed 1000s of new members in 2025, & we're fighting to bend the arc toward justice. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YLA...

The numbers are in! 2025 activity on @sharemylesson.bsky.social shows a clear pattern: Educators are looking for new ways to "protect and support the students who needed it most—and to do it with care, equity and community trust."

LISTEN 🎙️ On a new episode of Union Talk, @rweingarten.bsky.social highlights the impact of relevant & engaging public education by discussing the success rural New Lexington, OH, schools have seen from investing in hands-on learning, career exploration and student well-being ⤵️ www.aft.org/uniontalk

"Every community in America should be a place where children can access high quality early education, and where parents can make the work and family decisions they want." We need federal and state policies that recruit and retain ECE educators. tcf.org/content/comm...

While student loan application processing has picked back up thanks to our lawsuit, more than 800,000 borrowers are still waiting for decisions about changing repayment plans, and the backlog of those waiting for PSLF buyback has continued to grow. thecollegeinvestor.com/71106/status...

👋 The holidays are here, but soaring costs and debt can make them stressful. Let us know how debt is affecting you by filling out this survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/GMYTBZ7

Our new polling finds that 75% of Americans are seriously stressed about affording the holiday season thanks to Trump’s economic agenda. A majority of Americans said “that they were going to change their behavior in one way or another, whether that be buying fewer gifts, or gifts for less people."

ICYMI: A House vote on the extension of the enhanced premium tax credits is coming in January—but preventing 2026 premium spikes will ultimately depend on Senate action. Learn more: www.americanprogressaction.org/article/prev...

Just a few hundred borrowers have received the debt relief they're owed while 800,000 are stuck in limbo. @rweingarten.bsky.social: "Those applications and requests are not just paperwork—they represent the hopes & dreams of Americans who are striving for a better life.” www.aft.org/press-releas...

"Nursing is not for the faint of heart. We are the voices for those who cannot speak, the warriors for those who cannot fight, and the last defense for those whose rights and dignity depend on us." - Shannon Davenport, Alaska Nurses Association

It’s my last 6 …7 video.. (Maybe it’s my only 6- 7 video) Tomorrow I am 68

Retiree spending of public and private sector pension benefits generated $1.5 trillion in total economic output in 2022 alone, supporting 7.1 million jobs nationally. - @rweingarten.bsky.social

🎥: @rweingarten.bsky.social speaking on defined-benefit pensions after receiving the CORPaTH Crystal Globe Award