AFT

“This is what healthcare consolidation looks like: fewer choices, less access, and decisions made farther away from the communities they affect." - Rick Lucas, @ohnursesassoc.bsky.social @afthighered.bsky.social

‘Shortsighted and dangerous’: Nurses challenge maternity unit closure

A plan to close the inpatient maternity unit at Grady Memorial Hospital in Delaware County, Ohio, has drawn opposition from the Ohio Nurses Association and Delaware County residents. Their concerns we...

"You simply cannot ignore the racial disparities in healthcare unless you are ignorant, greedy, or just interested in political convenience."

Thank you Sarina Roher for sharing how @ofnhp.bsky.social stood up for patients & took on Kaiser Permanente to win better hospitals for all.

“In healthcare, we have to activate our voices,” said Anne Goldman, who is co-chair of the AFT Nurses and Health Professionals program and policy council and United Federation of Teachers vice president for non-DOE and private sector members. “When we’re together, we are unstoppable.”

Healthcare delegates urged to use the power of their collective voice

AFT nurses and health professionals were encouraged to use the power of their collective voice to advance the resolutions they want to see adopted at the AFT convention in Washington, D.C., during the...

“Our civil liberties are under attack, but we are ready to meet the moment.” - @ericrader.bsky.social

The energy was high on Thursday afternoon as AFT Higher Education division delegates packed a meeting room to overflowing to discuss what’s at stake in this year’s midterm elections. More ⬇️

Mobilizing to fight for higher education

There was packed house at the AFT Higher Education division meeting, where delegates discussed what’s at stake in the midterm elections and how members can organize on their campuses.

“I am thrilled to announce that despite everything that’s been thrown at us, we have hit a historic milestone: We proudly represent more members than ever before. Today, the AFT is 1.88 million members strong!” - @rweingarten.bsky.social

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Our public employee members—representing job titles ranging from lifeguards to emergency room nurses—gathered at convention to discuss common issues like disappearing public funding and understaffing, while sharing how being a part of a union supports their essential work.

At AFT convention, public employees sound alarm on midterms, SNAP cuts

At the AFT Public Employees divisional meeting, members agreed on two things: the issues affecting all of them, from understaffing to underfunding, and the urgency of getting out—and protecting—the vo...

On Saturday afternoon, the Higher Education Committee spoke to delegates about the AFT & the American Association of University Professors’ “A Blueprint for Strengthening and Transforming Higher Education” and the importance of making higher education a key issue in the 2026 midterms. @psc-cuny.org

Keeping higher education in focus in the 2026 midterms

The Higher Education Committee spoke about the AFT/AAUP Blueprint for Strengthening and Transforming Higher Education and the importance of making higher education a key issue in the 2026 midterms.

Civil rights leaders discussed the need to fight authoritarianism and to win the 2026 midterm election during the Human Rights luncheon at the AFT convention.

Civil rights leaders fire up delegates to fight authoritarianism

Civil rights leaders discussed the need to fight authoritarianism and to win the 2026 midterm election during the Human Rights luncheon at the AFT convention.

The Trump administration is trying to undermine the process for receiving federal funding for scientific research by using political appointees—instead of independent scientists—to approve research proposals.

The @aaup.org and the AFT are mobilizing to fight back.

AFT, AAUP and Stand Up for Science host higher ed action hour to stop the White House from politicizing scientific research

In late May, the Office of Management and Budget proposed a new rule that would, if approved, appoint senior White House officials to review applications for federal research instead of independent sc...

Today at Convention, @amyspitalnick.bsky.social & Dr. Debbie Almontaser joined AFT President @rweingarten.bsky.social for a candid discussion about hate, solidarity and how educators can create space for disagreement that builds empathy instead of deepening division.

Choosing humanity in divided times

As antisemitism and Islamophobia rise and conversations about both grow more fraught, Jewish and Muslim leaders took the stage at the AFT convention with a clear message: Silence doesn’t protect commu...

“It’s such a privilege to be here among some of the people doing the hardest work in our country. You make our communities work.”

Thank you @marypeltola.com for joining us for our 2026 convention.

Why have government employees been such a target of authoritarian regimes? Because, @skyeperryman.bsky.social says, “History shows us that movements that want to curtail democracy target public employees and the civilian public employee workforce.”

A report on legal battles against Trump’s authoritarianism

At the AFT Public Employees Jim McGarvey breakfast, progressive litigator Skye Perryman explained why authoritarian regimes like President Trump’s target public employees—and why the courts offer caus...

Dolores Huerta, the civil rights icon who co-founded the United Farm Workers of America—which fights for the rights, safety, power and dignity of agricultural workers—was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the AFT convention.

Dolores Huerta honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award

Dolores Huerta, the civil rights icon who co-founded the United Farm Workers of America—which fights for the rights, safety, power and dignity of agricultural workers—was given the Lifetime Achievemen...

"When grandstanding comes at night, truth comes in the morning." - @skyeperryman.bsky.social

Following the President's speech last night, the team at @democracyforward.org filed a federal court action demanding documents related to Trump's untrue claims around the 2020 election.

Even the “MAGA faithful” are hurting. 61% can't keep up with groceries, 63% with gas. Nearly 100,000 manufacturing jobs were lost since Trump took office. This is what his policies cost working people. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Trump’s policy mayhem is making even the Maga faithful consider walking away

Even voters who identify as foot soldiers of his political army are increasingly willing to blame Trump for their economic troubles

The AFT convention began by examining the unprecedented challenges that working people and our American democracy face. Friday afternoon’s general session pivoted to how we build the power to win positive change: Through organizing, organizing, organizing.

Friday afternoon kicks off with an upbeat session on organizing victories

Organizing is the lifeblood of our union—and the inspiring examples offered by AFT state and local leaders on Friday afternoon showed that our union’s heart is beating strong. From Hawaii to Michigan ...

"We started talking to each other. Conversations built trust. Trust built solidarity. And solidarity built power. And in 2024, 86% of our colleagues voted YES to create the United Academics of KU." - Marsha McCarthy, President, United Academics of the University of Kansas
@afthighered.bsky.social

Big, bad changes are now in effect for student loan borrowers. We partnered with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to give you the run down on what to expect. Check out aft.org/pslf for our guide that walks through what you need to do right now.

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"Scientists — not political appointees — should decide what research gets funded. That’s the only way to ensure that the United States upholds its reputation as the leader of scientific innovation." - Dr. Neena Qasba, UCHC-AAUP @aaup.org @aftct.bsky.social

Scientists, not politicians, should decide what research is funded

By Dr. Neena Qasba

“We live in a world of chaos and confusion, but we stand for democracy and justice. And right now we need your leadership and your solidarity.” - AFT Secretary Treasurer Fed Ingram

🌍 @aftintlaffairs.bsky.social

The AFT now has our highest membership ever, and we'll use our power to win elections this November. America's working families deserve leaders who believe in opportunity and economic security for all.

More in @rweingarten.bsky.social's latest New York Times column.

www.aft.org/column/build...

Working people today are facing unprecedented challenges to our fundamental rights & to our democracy.

But as a panel of scholars who study civics, democratic backsliding, voting rights & authoritarianism told convention attendees today, unions have the power we need to meet the moment.

Meeting the moment in unprecedented times

Working people today are facing unprecedented challenges, including rising inequality, democratic backsliding and attacks on our fundamental rights.

Congratulations Columbus Metropolitan Library workers on winning your union vote! @oftunion.bsky.social

Ohio Federation of Teachers @oftunion.bsky.social

CML workers won their union vote! They stood together, across different branches and different job titles, because CML is a stronger library system when workers have a voice. Thank you to all CML patrons and neighbors who supported CML workers!

Columbus Metropolitan Library Workers Win Union Vote

COLUMBUS — A strong majority of staff at Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) voted to form their union, CML United, according to secret ballot election results released today by Ohio’s State Employmen...

Sara Nelson is all-in for the AFT in our own fights. She deplored the conditions too many educators work under. She also struck a note of deep solidarity with AFT values: “Education is a foundation of democracy, and healthcare is a human right.”
@flyingwithsara.bsky.social

Flight attendants president asks for help in tough campaign at Delta

You can always spot a teacher’s kid. They get it. “I feel very at home in this room,” Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA—and a teacher’s daughter and form...