"Making a Difference Every Day"

AFT: Making a Difference Every Day.

Watch and share our commercial.

As you know, AFT members are making a difference every day in the lives of those we serve and in the communities in which we work--without exception.

But we are under attack. From Hollywood to our state governments to our local communities, our work is being questioned. It's now time to tell--and show--everyone what is absolutely true. Sure, we all must assume more responsibility, but AFT members are making a difference every day.

Yesterday, we began airing a new commercial featuring real people talking about public school teachers making a difference in their lives. The ad can be seen on MSNBC and during NBC's "Meet the Press" for the next two weeks. In addition, an aggressive online advertising component will start this week and continue for the next month.

Become a fan of our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/AFT everyday; share your story of a teacher who's made a difference in your life; and recommend this page to your friends.

In unity,

The AFT

Stand Up, Sign Up: One Nation Working Together!

Hey Colleagues,

Only seven days remain until we come together at rallies, marches, voter registration drives and volunteer events to pull America back together and put America back to work.

I hope you will be joining us at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC on Saturday, or at one of over 150 local events happening across the country.

We only have a few more days to get our message of unity out to everyone in America. Can you help?

Here are five things you can do right now on Facebook to help bring awareness to our movement:

1. Become a fan of One Nation Working Together on Facebook.

2. Suggest your Facebook friends become fans too -- we know you're connected and know tons of people who would be interested in this movement.

3. Change your profile picture to the One Nation Working Together logo: http://action.onenationworkingtogether.org/page/m/be22ea5/53f5d4fb/6020a9ef/4ce03e15/1229152366/VEsF/

4. Bring attention to the DC rally by RSVPing to the Facebook event now.

5. Update your status or write on our wall completing this thought: "I am part of One Nation Working Together because..."

http://action.onenationworkingtogether.org/page/m/be22ea5/53f5d4fb/6020a9ef/4ce03e16/1229152366/VEsD/

Thanks for doing your part! We are One Nation Working Together: for jobs, for justice, for education, for all.

-- Shelli

P.S. With just seven days to go, things are happening quickly. Text "ONE" to 62227 to stay informed on all the news from One Nation Working Together -- msg and data rates may apply.

WTU Supports ONE NATION Rally!!

Race to Nowhere - Movie Screening

WTU Members:
There will be a special screening of the film, Race to Nowhere , on Monday, September 27th, at the Washington, DC Jewish Community Center. Race to Nowhere is a powerful, education documentary film that reveals deeper concerns about our education system and the stress our kids are experiencing. Hundreds of communities will host local screenings in conjunction with National Child Health Day to figure out how we can end this “race to nowhere.”
For more informayion, visit: http://www.racetonowhere.com/ . Details can also be found below. Thank you.

DC teachers union head decries Rhee's comments - Associated Press Article

WTU Members:
Please read yesterday's Associated Press article below that includes comments from Washington Teachers' Union President George Parker about Chancellor Rhee's statements on the Oprah show that administrators have to "basically meet a criminal standard" to fire ineffective teachers.
Thank you.


DC teachers union head decries Rhee's comments
Associated Press
09/21/10 7:40 PM EDT

WASHINGTON — The head of the Washington Teachers' Union says D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee has more authority to fire teachers than most superintendents in urban districts.
Speaking on Oprah Winfrey's show on Monday, Rhee said administrators have to "basically meet a criminal standard" to fire ineffective teachers. She also said rules with the union have become a bureaucracy that are hard to overcome.
WTU President George Parker said Tuesday that Rhee's comments are an "over-exaggeration." He says she has many tools on hand to fire teachers.
Parker says Rhee has control over designing teacher evaluations used to remove teachers, and the union has no role.
He also says the union's contract more heavily weighs a teacher's performance over seniority as the basis for elimination.

President Parker's Voice Message

DENTAL AND OPTICAL ONLINE REGISTRATION
The Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) is aware that some of our members were unable to successfully complete their online registration for dental benefits by last Friday’s deadline, September 17th. To ensure that all members are properly registered and receive any needed assistance from the WTU in completing the online registration process, the deadline has been extended until this Friday, September 24th. If you need assistance in completing the registration process, please contact the WTU office by email, telephone or fax for assistance. The WTU Benefits Office requests and appreciates your patience while we assist our members in resolving any online registration difficulties.


WTU INTERNAL ELECTION
The WTU and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) have successfully reached an agreement that will end WTU litigation regarding voter eligibility and timeline for conducting the WTU elections. The WTU Executive Board is in agreement with the AFT Executive Council’s decision and order to conduct the WTU internal election under the conditions as agreed in bringing WTU’s litigation to closure. Members will soon receive an election schedule and timeline from AFT Election Administrator Al Squire. We thank you for your patience as we successfully achieved a resolution to this issue.

No Turning Back for DC Kids

WTU Members:

 Please read the below article from Washington Teachers' Union President George Parker and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten about the new mayoral leadership and moving DC Public Schools forward that ran this week in the Huffington Post. Thank you.

No Turning Back for DC Kids
The Huffington Post, September 15, 2010

Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future." This couldn't be any truer today. Every child in America deserves a great education, not by chance but by right. In the District of Columbia and throughout the nation, our challenge is to make sure every child's neighborhood school is one where parents want to send their kids and educators want to teach. A school reform process is under way in Washington, D.C., and there's no turning back. The voters have spoken and said they want more accountable and connected leadership. The city must keep faith with its children and continue the hard work necessary to give them the education they deserve that will prepare them for life, college and career.

Teachers put their hearts, souls and talents into their work so they can make a difference for their students. It's a complex and demanding job, but one with unmatched rewards. To succeed, students and teachers need the same things, including a school and systemwide culture that focuses on student achievement; makes parents partners in their child's education; nurtures strong and cooperative leaders; and provides ongoing support for teachers so that they, like their students, can constantly improve. And, yes, there must be accountability--for teachers, parents, administrators and elected officials, and for the community as a whole. But accountability is just a "data dump" if it isn't used to inform teaching and learning, to build upon what works and to change what isn't working.

Come November, the District of Columbia will have a new mayor, one who has ultimate responsibility for running the city's schools. Here, as is the case in urban school districts across the country, much work needs to be done to ensure that all students receive the education they deserve. The district and the teachers union entered into a contract earlier this year that was overwhelmingly approved by the teachers. It has provisions that challenge teachers and the district to think and work differently. If we'd written the contract on our own, some provisions might have been different; the district, no doubt, would say the same thing. But that's not how negotiations work. Both sides have to agree to the contract, and both sides have to be committed to making it work. We are ready to meet those challenges, and we look forward to working with an administration prepared to move forward by working with us.

Strong and supportive leadership will get results. Look at the school districts across the country that have made radical changes by working with teachers, not fighting with them. In school districts in New Haven, Conn.; south Los Angeles County (ABC Unified School District); Pittsburgh; Hillsborough, Fla.; Douglas County, Colo.; and many others, the teachers unions and their respective administrators are working together on innovative reforms to help kids get a great education.

The new school year is now under way, and in Washington, D.C., it will take strong and supportive leadership to accomplish unfinished business--better instructional guidance; collaboration on implementing the contract; work with city agencies and nonprofit groups to provide wraparound services to address students' unmet needs through, for instance, after-school programs; and converting empty school buildings into parent and community service centers.

Public education is a marathon, not a sprint. Yes, there's urgency to fixing our schools, but we have to set ourselves on a long-term path toward constant and sustainable progress. As Vincent Gray, Washington, D.C.'s Democratic Party nominee for mayor, so eloquently put it last night, "collaboration and reform are not mutually exclusive." We wholeheartedly agree.

-- Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers

-- George Parker, President, Washington Teachers' Union

President Parker's Voice Message (9.09.10)

PAY INCREASE AND RETROACTIVE PAY

The Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) would like to thank DC Public Schools (DCPS) and the DC Office of Pay and Retirement and it’s staff for working with the WTU to ensure that our teachers receive their retroactive pay and salary increase by the first pay period of this school year, (Friday, September 10, 2010). Also, we would like to thank our members for your patience in WTU’s ongoing effort to ensure that our members receive their salary increases and retroactive pay in a timely manner.

The paycheck you receive tomorrow, Friday September 10th, will reflect the FY 2010 salary schedule including pay raises negotiated in the new contract. All teachers who have previously received their paychecks through direct deposit will also receive this payment through direct deposit. New teachers who never enrolled in direct deposit will receive hard copy checks through the mail.

Retroactive checks for eligible WTU bargaining unit members are being mailed to your address of record tomorrow (Friday September 10). Teachers should expect to receive these checks no later than Friday, September 17th. After September 17th, teachers may contact the DCPS Payroll Office directly at (202) 442-5330 if you encounter any issues. In the meantime if you have any additional questions about your retroactive pay, please contact the DCPS Office of Human Resources at (202) 442-4090.

DCPS PROPERTY ACCOUNTABILTY

It has been brought to our attention that many of our members have been asked to sign a DC Public School's (DCPS) Property Accountability Statement of Understanding. All teachers are reminded that your responsibilities regarding DCPS property have already been negotiated in your collective bargaining agreement. The WTU is recommending that teachers not sign this document until you receive further instructions from the WTU. DCPS has been so advised. If your supervisor requests you to sign the document please contact the WTU office at (202) 293-8600. Also, the WTU has forwarded a copy of the DCPS Property Accountability documents, as well as, a copy of the WTU contract to your WTU email account. Please refer to Article 14 (Damage or Loss of Property) on page # 49 of the new contract to review your negotiated responsibilities regarding DCPS property.

AGAIN teachers are advised not to sign the DCPS Property Accountability Statement pending further notice from the WTU.

You can view a copy of this voice message at your WTU email account

Thank you for supporting the Washington Teachers’ Union.

Veteran DC Teacher Claims Transfer is Retribution For Whistle Blowing

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WUSA) -- A veteran DC public school teacher has been involuntarily transferred after 25 years at Wilson High School after he complained about problems there, leading him to believe the transfer is retribution for whistle blowing.

"I think the real reason is that I have been very active as the union building representative, trying to intercede for teachers and to prevent inappropriate orders from being given to teachers and, most recently, because I reported to the chancellor the fact that students went on this senior class trip (where) out of 88 students, eight had over 200 unexcused absences. They were failing classes, and another 10 had over 100 unexcused absences. Read more

Input Needed for DCPS/WTU Special Education Summit

Attention: All Special Education Teachers, Service Providers and General Education Teachers

Next week the Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) will engage in a Summit with leaders from DC Public Schools Department of Special Education. The purpose of this Summit is to improve the delivery of Special Education services to our children. We are seeking your input for this important agenda and would like to hear your concerns and viable solutions as they relate to Special Education. In addition, if you know of any contract violations as they pertain to Special Education, please contact your WTU Field Representative immediately at (202) 293-8600.

We are also requesting your input on all of the Professional Development resources that you feel will assist you in offering the best Special Education services possible to our students. As teachers, it is important that we are knowledgeable and confident in our delivery of these specialized services.
.

We are asking that you submit all of your concerns, questions and input, along with any additional documentation, by the close of business on Friday, September 10, 2010. Please send this information by e-mail or by fax only and be sure to include your name and contact number on all submissions.
.

You can e-mail or fax this information to:

 

Attention: Anita Corley

WTU Field Representative

Email: acorley@wtulocal6.org
Fax #: (202) 293-8633

 

Every valid request will be presented to the DCPS leadership and detailed outcomes will be posted on our website, as well as , shared via email with our membership.

Thank you.

Monique LeNoir
Director of Communications
The Washington Teachers' Union

Happy Labor Day!!!

It's a holiday on Monday, it's Labor Day!!! We should not forget that...

There is no progress without struggle! Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate  agitation are men who want crops  without plowing up the ground; they want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its waters. The struggle may be a moral one or a physical one, but it must be a struggle. Men may not get all they pay for in this world, but they certainly pay for all that they get. We must do this by labor, by suffering, by sacrifice, and, if needed be, by our lives.

- Frederick Douglas -

Reposted from: http://teachersol.blogspot.com