News

Weingarten launches new campaign: ‘Real Solutions for Kids and Communities’

Photo of AFT President Randi Weingarten addressing TEACH 2023

The AFT has always been a solutions-driven union, and our new campaign, launched during TEACH on July 21, proves it once again with a fresh, practical approach to strengthening public education. As AFT President Randi Weingarten pointed out during her keynote speech, the $5 million, yearlong campaign, “Real Solutions for Kids and Communities,” stands up against attacks on public schools and offers real-world solutions to build up, rather than break down, our communities.

Randi Weingarten at a Massachusetts high school

Summer is upon us, and parents, children and teachers are winding down from what has been an exhausting and fully operational school year—the first since the devastating pandemic. The long-lasting impact of COVID-19 has affected our students’ and families’ well-being and ignited the politics surrounding public schools. All signs point to the coming school year unfolding with the same sound and fury, and if extremist culture warriors have their way, being even more divisive and stressful.

“Fort Bend Federation of Employees is proud to announce it is endorsing the following candidates for the upcoming May 4th election for the Trustee positions on the Board of Trustees for the Fort Bend Independent School District, Monica Riley for Position 7, and Lily Lam for Position 5.”

“Over 85 members of the Fort Bend AFT Teachers Union attended the candidate screening, and Monica Riley and Lily Lam clearly demonstrated their grasp of the issues and challenges currently facing Teachers, Paraprofessionals, Counselors and Bus Drivers in the Fort Bend ISD.”

“We know they will do an excellent job serving the students of the Fort Bend ISD, and encourage everyone to vote for them.”

Fort Bend AFT Local 6198 has over 1700 members, there are 65,000 members of AFT in the state of Texas, and 1.7 million nationwide.

For more information contact;

Karrie Washenfelder, President

Fort Bend Federation of Employees, AFT Local 6198

12621 W. Airport Blvd. Suite 400 Sugar Land TX 77478

karrie.washenfelder@fortbendaft.org

281–240–1865

Introducing Your New Union President

My Vision is for All Educators to feel Appreciated all year long!

Fort Bend AFT Officer/Executive Board Elections

Download this letter

Download nomination forms

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Fort Bend AFT #6198

12621 West Airport Blvd.

Suite #400

Sugar Land, Texas 77478

January 17, 2020

To: Fort Bend AFT Members,

Subject: Announcement of Fort Bend AFT 2020 Executive Board Members and Executive Officers Election

All the Fort Bend AFT Executive Board and Officer positions are up for election in May of 2020. Filing opens on Wednesday, January 1, 2020. Nomination forms are attached and can be picked up at the Fort Bend AFT General Meeting on February 18, 2020.

The last day to file in writing is Tuesday, February 18, 2020. The term of office for all positions is three years. Fort Bend AFT is a democratic organization and governed by a democratically elected Executive Board and Executive Officers.

Feel free to contact the Fort Bend AFT office or email myt77423@gmail.com (Marilyn Taylor) for more information. Nomination forms may be emailed to aftfbelection@gmail.com or delivered to the Fort Bend Union Office.

2020 FORT BEND AFT ELECTION NEWS AND TIMELINE

January 1, 2020: Nominations open

February 18, 2020: Last day for written nominations to be accepted by the Election Committee.

General Membership Meeting

February 26, 2020: Letter mailed to all nominees confirming candidacy. Uncontested seats may be approved by acclimation.

March 17, 2020: Candidates’ Debate (Candidate Forum)

April 3, 2020: Ballots are mailed to membership with instructions to vote via US mail

May 1, 2020: Ballots are counted by the Election Committee members

Membership meeting

Count Ballots & Finalize Election Results

If your address has changed, please notify us as soon as possible. We will be sending out ballots to your home address as per AFL/CIO and Federal Union Election Guidelines. If we do not have current address we will not be able to send you an official ballot and thus we would miss the chance to participate in the election process.

Thank you for your participation in this democratic process and we look forward to seeing you at the upcoming meeting.

The Fort Bend AFT Elections Committee

Chair: Marilyn Taylor 281-330-8347 myt77423@gmail.com

JoAnn Pratt Sonya Letcher

Helen Rushin Stephanie Cobb

Stephanie Glaze Judy Harper

List of Executive Officers and Board Positions Available

Elected Officers

President

Executive Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Executive Board Members

At Large 1

At Large 2

At Large 3

At Large 4

At Large 5

Deadline for filing is February 18, 2020 in writing to the Elections Committee.

What unions do

In AFT President Randi Weingarten’s latest New York Times column, she describes what it is exactly that unions do. Though unions are the most popular they have been in decades, anti-union sentiment still thrives in red states and across the nation. “Several years ago, The Atlantic ran a story whose headline made even me, a labor leader, scratch my head: ‘Union Membership: Very Sexy,’” Weingarten writes in the column. “The gist was that higher wages, health benefits and job security—all associated with union membership—boost one’s chances of getting married. Belonging to a union doesn’t actually guarantee happily ever after, but it does help working people have a better life in the here and now.” Click through to read the full column.

In defense of public education

Randi Weingarten and NYC teacher Tamara Simpson

Attacks on public education in America by extremists and culture-war peddling politicians have reached new heights (“lows” may be more apt), but they are not new. The difference today is that the attacks are intended not just to undermine public education but to destroy it.

Fort Bend AFT and Texas AFT invite all educators, support professionals, and community partners to join us in Austin on the first Monday of spring break, March 11, for the 2019 Texas AFT March to the Capitol. It is our turn to educate the legislature about our priorities and tell them to do what’s right.

Register now to join us in Austin on March 11. The Union will provide round-trip transportation, and all participants will receive a legislative orientation and lunch on the Capitol grounds. Thousands of public school employees and supporters will be mobilized for this event to rally for our

November 2013 Newsletter

We're thrilled to be able to offer you the opportunity to read our newsletter, the Fort Bend Advocate, electronically.

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