We Care

Members of the Ansonia Federation of Teachers were joined by AFT Connecticut, school administrators, politicians, and parents on Thursday in the cold for a rally at Ansonia High School.
The Mayor and Board of alders are illegally withholding $600k in resources earmarked for the schools.
Teachers after teacher came forward at the request of Local President Matt Hough to tell stories of the difficulty of teaching (and caring for) 31 second graders, 7 and 8 years old, of crying at home in the evening because they didn’t know if they could continue the next day, of telling their own children not to follow them into teaching, a profession they love but now find so, so difficult and frustrating.

We rallied in the cold because we care.

Yesterday morning AFT Connecticut members hit the doors with our sisters and brothers of the Connecticut AFL-CIO at multiple locations across the state to visit union households and explain to union members why the unions are supporting candidates who support working men and women. Some of those we door knock for our our own AFT members, like Martha Marx, who is running for state senate.

We run for office and door knock because we care.

Later yesterday, the Norwalk Federation of Educational Personnel celebrated those who survived cancer or other adversity. It was an outpouring of love.  The theme was “We survive because you survive,” which recognizes the that the strength of these survivors influences the lives of many others.

We celebrate because we care.

Finally, last night we gathered in Manchester to support Johanna Hayes, a National Teacher of the Year who is running for congress in Connecticut’s 5th CD.
She is an inspiration.
She rejects the argument that we must chose between a strong economy and a nation where everyone can have healthcare, education, fair wages, and a voice. She understands that they are not ideas in opposition to each other, they go hand in hand.

We support her because like us, she cares.

While at the Jahana event, we had the pleasure to see the Sikander Family. Salma was to be deported after 18 years but members of the community and Labor came forward in support.
Let Selma Stay
https://backusunited-john.blogspot.com/2018/08/let-salma-stay.html
 It was the great to see them again and know that when people stand to get her and support each other, good things can happen. 

AFT has a slogan-
We care
We fight
We show up
We vote

Our members are doing amazing work, in the classrooms, in hospitals and clinics, and in public service.
We care.