PreK-12 Teachers

Note - updates on the impact of the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) outbreak on certified educators and members of PreK-12 local unions will be linked here.
 
Click here for results of our board of education (BOE) union coalition return to school survey (Jan 11, 2022).
 
Click here for Department of Public Health (DPH) guidance on mandatory school employee vaccinations (Jan. 4, 2022).
 
Click here for the state Department of Education (SDE)'s COVID-19 self-test kits distribution plan (Jan. 3, 2022).
 
Click here for the federal education department website's COVID-19 resources page (Dec. 30, 2021).
 
Click here for the SDE website's COVID-19 resources page (Sep. 14, 2021).
 
Click here for our national union's COVID-19 resources for PreK-12 teachers (Aug. 14, 2021).
 
Click here for our legal counsel's memo on COVID-19 and employment rights (Jul. 27, 2020).
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AFT Connecticut represents PreK-12 educator in school districts across Connecticut and is a proponent for public schools at the local level in members' districts and in the state legislature. From contract negotiations to student testing to pensions, our federation works to protect teachers' rights and provide professional support for members serving PreK-12 youth.
 
Click here to access our PreK-12 Council's open Facebook group. *
 
Click here to access Share My Lesson’s free resources for educators.
 
Click here to access Donors Choose and help teachers in need of supplies for their classrooms.
 
* requires approval to participate; does not require FB user account to access.
 

Securing 'Hero Pay' for Unprecedented Service

The global COVID-19 pandemic is undoubtedly the greatest collective challenge our union members have faced in their lifetimes. Securing adequate compensation for the risks taken by frontline "essential" workers has been a daunting and often frustrating challenge. Our latest collective bargaining report highlights how public employee members tapped the power of "Union YES" to move a neutral arbitrator and state lawmakers to show appreciation for their sacrifice.
 

Advocating for those Who Have Been Historically Under-Resourced

Effectively teaching and supporting students, whether in PreK-12 or higher education settings, requires the entire school or college community to embrace a “whole child" approach. That is one of the central themes of a recently published op-ed by Christopher Trombly (speaking in photo, below), a member of our recently affiliated CSU-AAUP. It drives his demands for state elected officials to invest the resources needed to fund our state’s future on behalf of the students he and his colleagues serve:
 

Demanding Retirement Security for All

Nearly 40 years ago, two provisions in the Social Security Act were created with the intent of equally treating workers who pay Social Security taxes throughout their careers and those who do not on all of their earnings. However, the provisions—the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO)—have caused nearly 2 million American workers to be denied benefits because they chose to enter public service. 
 

"Having Our Backs Every Step of the Way" Helps Yield Big Gains

It is often said that contractual gains cannot be made at the negotiating table alone; they additionally depend on workplace, community and political collective action. This complete formula is particularly important in order to overcome many historical and structural impediments embedded in many fields and industries. In this collective bargaining report, we're highlighting a landmark contract victory where by choosing “Union YES,” members helped resolve some of modern healthcare’s biggest challenges.
 
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