Delegates to Convention breezed through proposed constitution and bylaws amendments and resolutions in the Saturday general session. The following are a list of action approved in Saturday’s general session.
Jaime Rodriguez, longtime activist and member of Local 2277 (PCCFFAP) was appointed to fill the AFT-Oregon Vice-President for Political Action seat. Sarah Grider, Local 3922 (PCCFCE) stepped down last month from the position after resigning from her position at PCC to finish a bachelors degree through Marylhurst University in Lake Oswego. Rodriguez was the 2013 recipient of the AFT-Oregon John Connor Award for his tireless work on numerous election campaigns.
Ramon Ramirez, President of the Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United (PCUN) and CAUSA brought a message of the importance of community engagement and solidarity among unions.
AFT-Oregon welcomed Debra Mayo-Kelley as the new field representative in February. Mayo-Kelley brings a wealth of experience from her previous union leadership role and staff positions as field representative and organizing director.
The AFT, which represents 112,000 nurses and other healthcare workers and is the second-largest nurse union in the nation, approved resolutions calling for safe staffing levels and efforts to reshape the healthcare industry to put patients before corporate profits.
AFT convention delegates passed a resolution reaffirming the union's support for the promise and potential of the Common Core State Standards as a way to ensure all children have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the 21st century while sharply criticizing the standards' botched implementation.
AFT convention delegates unanimously passed a special order of business—recommended by the executive council—to fight back against attacks on unions and teachers like Vergara v. California and Harris v. Quinn, and to fight forward to reclaim the promise of America.
To restore joy to teaching and learning and create strong community public schools that are safe, collaborative and welcoming places, AFT members passed a resolution taking a bold stand against the obsession with testing and calling for an end to the failed test-and-punish accountability system to one focused on support and improvement.
AFT President Randi Weingarten kicked off the AFT national convention in Los Angeles by outlining a bold plan to both fight back and fight forward to reclaim the promise of America and create economic and educational opportunity for all.
The AFT and Freelancers Union announced a new partnership that will enable contingent faculty across the country to access tailored benefits and connect, share and learn with others in their professions.