AFT Local 1723

Helping Members Beat Inflation with "Dollars in their Pockets"

Mon, 10/31/2022 - 5:50pm
The negotiating table continues to be where labor and management can find the common ground necessary to plug retention shortfalls and close nagging recruitment gaps impacting nearly all industries. Numerous affiliated local unions from across our state federation have for the past three months focused efforts on this shared objective. Our latest collective bargaining report highlights a recent contract victory where members tapped the power of "Union YES" to secure immediate gains and build momentum for future progress.
 

Urging Action for a "Safe, Healthy Return to the Classroom"

Fri, 12/31/2021 - 12:30pm
Leaders representing over 60,000 public education employees across Connecticut are urging immediate implementation of new, strict, consistent protocols and safety standards in our schools. Our Board of Education (BOE) Union Coalition is calling on state and district officials to take specific additional steps ahead of students’ return from winter break. Action is needed now as the COVID-19 omicron variant continues transmitting at the highest levels since the start of the pandemic.
 
Click here for the coalition's updated core principles.
 

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.
 

Presenting Petitions Urging the "Safe and Successful Schools Now" Recommendations

Thu, 12/10/2020 - 1:30pm
As COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) cases continue to rise in Connecticut, leaders of the Board of Education (BOE) Union Coalition today presented a petition signed by nearly 14,000 education and community members. Signers urged the state to take immediate steps to protect the health of students, staff and communities.
 
Click here to sign and share the petition.
 

New "Back-To-School" Plan Needs More Specifics - Raises Serious Health, Safety Concerns

Thu, 06/25/2020 - 5:00pm
Today Connecticut Education Association (CEA) President Jeff Leake and AFT Connecticut Vice President Mary Yordon released the following joint statement regarding Governor Ned Lamont's proposals for resuming in-person learning:
 
 

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.
 

"Looking Ahead to 2020" for Funding Our Future

Mon, 12/23/2019 - 6:30pm
State federation leaders last month teamed up with the Connecticut Education Association (CEA) and WFSB-TV Channel 3 for a survey of certified educators on the issues facing their profession. The first-of-its-kind effort engaged over a thousand union members from scores of local and regional school districts. To further expand public awareness, delegates to AFT Connecticut’s PreK-12 Council are gearing up for a second survey scheduled later this winter.
 

Resisting Discriminatory Policies Targeting Teachers

Mon, 10/30/2017 - 2:30pm
Union members' advocacy over the past six weeks succeeded in blocking several proposed budgetary policies threatening harm to students in schools across the state. Still, the compromise package passed last week by lawmakers contains two provisions unfairly singling out Connecticut's hard-working educators. To reverse the damage in 2018, teachers will need to double-down on both member and political engagement during what will be a critical year to be "all in."
 

Fight for a Fair State Budget Moves Forward

Sat, 09/30/2017 - 10:30am
Following intense pressure to reject a damaging state budget narrowly adopted by lawmakers two weeks earlier, the governor on Thursday vetoed the toxic fiscal package produced by Republican legislative leadership. The action came after unions joined advocates for demonstrations and speak-outs across the state demanding better choices than failed and painful austerity policies. Our members played a vital role, turning up their efforts following a telephone town hall last weekend where the focus was on planning our next steps.
 

Spotlight: PreK-12 School Teachers

Mon, 10/05/2015 - 3:30pm
Today is World Teachers' Day, a global initiative to show appreciation for hardworking educators and raise public awareness of the many challenges facing the profession. It's also an opportunity to spotlight a few of our many union members in Connecticut who epitomize the slogan of this year's effort: "empowering teachers, building sustainable societies."
 
Click here for press coverage of World Teachers' Day.
 
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