Windham Public Schools

Making Gains "at Every Step of the Salary Scale"

Mon, 01/31/2022 - 6:30pm
The recent pattern begun last year of affiliated local unions negotiating contracts with solid pay increases has over the past 90 days continued to be repeated. Our latest collective bargaining report features one such affiliate whose leadership overcame historic inequities to win a ground-breaking new agreement in negotiations with their employer. Members' personal progress will additionally benefit the community they serve as the provisions promise to stabilize the workforce for years to come.
 

Winning a Contract that Shows "What is Possible"

Fri, 10/29/2021 - 12:30pm
Reflecting Connecticut's improved fiscal health, union members have over the past three months made solid progress in negotiations with their employers. A local affiliate whose leadership overcame their community's slow economic recovery to secure significant monetary improvements is being spotlighted in our latest collective bargaining report. By demonstrating a shared commitment to vital and valued health services, they moved their administrators to invest in both the current and future workforce.
 

Overcoming Challenges to Take a "Step in the Right Direction"

Fri, 07/30/2021 - 5:30pm
Despite the lingering economic effects of the pandemic, union members have since May continued to score substantial successes in collective bargaining negotiations. We are highlighting a local affiliate in this latest quarterly report that survived the fiscal fallout of COVID-19 and won a strong new contract. Their focus on tapping available federal relief resources paid off for a local community hit hard by the global public health crisis.
 

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.
 

"U & I in Union:" Stepping Up to Be an "Agent of Change"

Tue, 05/07/2019 - 4:30pm
The power of collective bargaining to make workplace improvements ranks among the most valuable benefits of labor representation. Union members participating in negotiations with their employer are empowered to overcome seemingly intractable challenges and insurmountable obstacles. We're lifting up the recent experience of PreK-12 teachers volunteering for fist-time bargaining team duty who made real, tangible breakthroughs in their new contract.
 

Teachers, Nurses and Public Employees Back Victor Funderburk to Lead Windham

Sat, 10/28/2017 - 9:30am
Willimantic - Citing his deep community roots and commitment to issues impacting working families, members of the 30,000-strong AFT Connecticut are supporting Victor Funderburk to serve as mayor of Windham. The labor federation's executive committee voted to add the retired educator to its slate of endorsed municipal candidates for the November 7 General Election. Members of affiliated unions last week participated in a local community canvass and are engaged in additional efforts to help "get out the vote" for Funderburk.
 

Protecting Immigrant Students, Educators and Caregivers

Sun, 02/19/2017 - 12:45pm
In classrooms and on campuses across the nation, undocumented youth, from preschoolers to college students, are terrified. Young people with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status as well as visa-contingent educators and healthcare professionals fear that changing policies could jeopardize their safety. In an increasingly  hostile political climate, national, state and local union leaders have stepped up to defend communities, demand fairness and corral resources to help.
 
Click here for our national union's resources for immigrant communities.
 

Spotlight: Supporting Students' Educational Opportunities

Thu, 11/17/2016 - 4:30pm
Paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs) represent approximately 40 percent of the staff in our nation's public schools and play a vital role in reclaiming the promise of a great education. We're spotlighting union members who are "the engines keeping public schools running" at the same time that they are recognized nationally for the positive impact they have on students' lives.
 

Teachers at Windham Charter School Ratify First Contract

Thu, 06/11/2015 - 2:00pm
Willimantic - Teachers who educate the students of Path Academy Windham on Tuesday ratified a two-year contract with the school's administration and charter management organization, Our Piece of the Pie®, Inc. (OPP®) The members of the recently organized Windham Charter School Federation of Teachers (WCSFT) overwhelmingly approved the collective bargaining agreement negotiated in what educators describe as an atmosphere of mutual respect.
 

Teachers Bring Lawmakers, Parents Together to Grow "Windham United for Great Schools" Movement

Mon, 10/07/2013 - 8:31am
Willimantic - Teachers are welcoming pledges of support from Windham's legislative delegation to address growing concerns over the State Department of Education (SDE)-directed "turn-around" of their local public schools. State Senator Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-29) and State Representative Susan Johnson (D-49) last Wednesday attended a forum on the issues organized by the union representing the district's teachers. There they pledged to continue collaboration with local stakeholders and to raise their concerns with the commissioner of SDE and the "Special Master" assigned by the department to Windham's schools.
 
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