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Statement on 2015-2017 State Operating Budget

AFT Washington applauds Governor Inslee and the House and Senate for passing a compromise 2015-2017 budget that supports education employees. The budget provides a 4.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment over two years for education employees covered by voter-approved Initiative 732. This not only covers K-12 teachers but also community and technical college (CTC) faculty, technical college classified employees, and K-12 school support staff. [full release]

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"Free" Community College

January 13, 2015 | Washington News Service | Chris Thomas, Producer

SHORELINE, Wash. - It's still just an idea, but President Obama's mention of a plan to allow students to attend community college free for two years, providing they keep their grades up, is getting thumbs up from some Washington educators. Tuition at the state's community and technical colleges has risen 38 percent in the last six years. The price tag for Obama's national proposal is $60 billion over a ten-year period, and states would be required to fund one-fourth of the program. - See more at: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2015-01-13/education/free-community-college-would-it-could-it-should-it-work-in-washington/a43968-1#sthash.qCJ9j6v8.dpuf

Governor's Education Budget Proposal a Good Start but More Investment Needed

We commend the governor’s budget proposal to close tax loopholes and establish new revenue sources, such as a capital gains tax. His investments in early learning, funding McCleary, and an enhanced cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for education employees covered under I-732 are a demonstration of the values we share. 
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Exempt Staff at Seattle Community Colleges Approve Union

March 14, 2014

Seattle – Exempt employees who work at the four Seattle Community College campuses today voted 68-39 to form their own union through a secret ballot process certified by the Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission in Olympia. The vote means that 156 staff who work in advising, IT, financial aid, student outreach, and other departments will be represented by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Washington. Faculty at Seattle Community Colleges are already represented by AFT Washington.

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Statement on Gov. Inslee's State of the State Address

Statement on Governor Inslee’s State of the State Address
By AFT Washington President Karen Strickland

We are pleased to hear today in his State of the State Address that one of Governor Inslee’s top priorities this session is to educate every child, from early learning to higher education, and that he is backing his priority by advocating for $200 million in school funding this session.

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ParaEducator Maria Haynes on the Impact of Positive Adults in a Child's Life

Maria Haynes, a paraEducator with Tacoma Public Schools, talks about the importance of having positive, caring adults in a child's life to help them succeed.

Adjunct Professor on What Reclaiming the Promise Means to Him

Pierce College adjunct instructor Michael Boggess believes that equitable faculty hiring and working conditions are important to having a world-class community college system.

Seattle faculty member on taking the word "community" out of community college name

AFT Seattle faculty member Tracy Lai talks about how community colleges are considering taking the word "community" out of their names and how that symbolizes an important change in mission and purpose of the community college system.