As part of the "austerity" budget bill passed in May 2016, non-union State employees will pay up to 18 percent of the total premium share for their medical coverage starting in October 2016.  This represents a near two-fold increase. Dental coverage premium share will remain the same, only the employee portion of the medical coverage will be increased.   The increase in the employee share of the medical premiums does NOT impact union employees.

-8/25/16

A joint statement from Louisiana Federation of Teachers Interim President Larry Carter and Louisiana Association of Educators President Debbie Meaux

We urge all of our leaders to remain focused on restoring Louisiana’s public school system, and to stand wary of any attempts by outsiders to take advantage of this crisis. We simply cannot risk handing over our locally controlled schools to private entities looking to cash in on this unfortunate situation.

CORNING/ELMIRA, NY, August 19, 2016– As the first day of classes nears, instructors at Corning Community College are looking forward as usual to helping our students learn and succeed. However, this year we task ourselves with an additional responsibility: raising awareness with the community outside of our classrooms about urgent issues facing the college we love.

Welcome Back!

I am excited to serve as your MEA President for the next two years. A huge thank you to Past President, and current Vice President, Danielle Borseth (MMS), for her leadership over the past two years. Your Secretary is Rachel Drapeau (MHS) and your Treasurer is Julie Fleck (MHS).

Together, we are committed to making our organization work for all of you.

Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, delivered a hard-charging speech at the union’s convention in Washington on Monday (transcript here), asserting that ineffective teachers should find another line of work. 

Colleagues,

Due to the NPS decision to pull its employees out of the State Health Benefit Plan and into Aetna MORE MEMBERS MAY NOW BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE A WAIVER PAYMENT WORTH UP TO $5,000.   This was a benefit the NTU negotiated for you in our 2012 contract and can put up to $5,000 in your pocket, EVERY YEAR! 

Previously, due to state law, married employees whose spouse were also in the SEHBP could not opt-in for this waiver benefit.  This decision by the NPS changed that for those employees.

AFT President Randi Weingarten's response to Donald Trump’s Education “solutions,” which include  vouchers, charter expansion, merit pay, tenure and much more.  

SaveSave

The AFT-Maryland stood in support of Chase Brexton Health Services workers who were terminated for trying to form a union. Staff and members of the federation joined more than a hundred other activist and community members to protest decisions by the clinic’s administration to fire workers.

Memorandum of Understanding
between the
Baltimore County Administration
and the 
Baltimore County Federation
of Public Employees
FPE/AFT, AFL-CIO, Local #4883

* * *    July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2019    * * *

(Baton Rouge – August 18, 2016) The Louisiana Federation of Teachers is reaching out to members who were affected by the August floods, assessing their needs and working to provide assistance, LFT Interim President Larry Carter said today.