All News

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."
 

Rockville General Hospital Tech Professionals Choose "Union YES to Do Right by Our Patients"

Fri, 07/12/2019 - 5:30pm
Vernon - Surgical technologists, psychiatric technicians, licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and other technical professionals at Rockville General Hospital (RGH) today empowered themselves as patient advocates by voting to form a union in their workplace. The employees cast ballots in the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)-supervised election three weeks after seeking voluntary recognition from Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc. of their choice for exclusive representation. The vote codifies negotiating rights for 96 caregivers at the for-profit company's Eastern Connecticut Health Network (ECHN)-managed hospital.
 

Keeping the Commitment to "Win-Win" Solutions

Mon, 06/24/2019 - 5:30pm
Republican lawmakers earlier this month hatched a last-ditch attempt to block passage of a biennial budget package by misrepresenting so-called "labor savings." They have since continued pushing a false narrative that public sector union leaders were negotiating "concessions" with the administration of Governor Ned Lamont. In reality,  nothing could be further from the truth; ongoing discussions have since January focused on "win-win" solutions, not more givebacks.
 

Our 2019 Convention: "Still Here and Still Growing"

Sat, 06/08/2019 - 10:30am
Delegates representing the highest decision-making body in AFT Connecticut last month gathered to debate and determine the direction of our state federation for the next two years. Material provided at our annual convention is now available for all members, including officers' annual reports, the latest completed financial audit and recipients of the scholarships, citations and awards presented.
 
Click here for access to delegates' material.
 

Credit and Training for Making Workplace Progress

Thu, 05/30/2019 - 3:30pm
AFT Connecticut's professional development (PD) has over the past three months offered more than a dozen career advancement, worksite safety and union leadership development workshops. The variety of course offerings has been diverse, with several led by accredited experts while others were presented by local union members who had completed prior "train the trainer" sessions. They all shared in common our state federation's commitment to furthering a "grow-your-own" capacity-building model for this valuable benefit.
 
Click here for our previous PD program report.
 

"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.
 

Educators, Municipal and State Employees, Nurses Back Grocery Workers on Strike

Mon, 04/15/2019 - 4:30pm
Hamden - Leaders of AFT Connecticut and Council 4 AFSCME today presented a joint donation to workers picketing outside the Dixwell Avenue Stop & Shop in Hamden. Each labor federation contributed $2,500.00 to a joint strike fund benefitting approximately 12,000 cashiers, stockers, bakers, deli clerks, and butchers in the company's 94 grocery stores across Connecticut. They were joined by local consumers and elected officials supporting members of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW).
 

Bargaining to "Make Real Gains" for Members

Tue, 04/09/2019 - 5:30pm
The negotiating table has since mid January seen a frenzy of activity and produced results for AFT Connecticut-affiliated local unions. Six new contracts were ratified, three memoranda of understanding were reached and two arbitration awards were won in the first quarter of 2019. Each exemplifies the advantage of an active and engaged membership, and we're spotlighting two featuring important milestones for their locals and our movement.
 

Boosting Our Strength, Overcoming Opponents' Tactics

Tue, 03/19/2019 - 6:30pm
Schemes to undercut America’s labor movement — epitomized last year by a U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decision — have stalled, according to the latest federal labor data. Union membership rates last year remained steady, despite an escalating assault targeting the public sector workforce. AFT national, state and local leaders helped stem the tide by empowering new groups of workers and signing-up former "fair share" fee-payers as full members.
 
Click here for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2018 unionization data release.
 

"U & I in Union:" Helping Colleagues See "Better Days Ahead"

Wed, 03/06/2019 - 6:30pm
Outdated labor laws governing private sector workplaces have for decades hindered working people seeking to exercise their collective bargaining rights. A management culture hostile to employees with labor representation has at the same time proliferated, adding to the difficulty. We're sharing the story of healthcare professionals overcoming these obstacles to organize and win a union election through mutual support and workplace solidarity.
 
Syndicate content