AFT President Randi Weingarten Welcomes Democrats’ Appropriations Proposal

For Immediate Release
April 29, 2019

Contact:
Oriana Korin
202-374-6103
okorin@aft.org
www.aft.org

AFT President Randi Weingarten Welcomes Democrats’ Appropriations Proposal

WASHINGTON—AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement about the proposed education and labor appropriations bill headed for markup in the House of Representatives tomorrow:

“House Democrats’ plan to increase funding for our public schools by $4.4 billion would make an extraordinary difference in the lives of children and their educators. This is a budget to fund our future, and it counters the years of deep disinvestment in our public schools. It would invest in programs that really matter for children and teachers—programs that Betsy DeVos has tried to eliminate, like smaller class sizes, community schools, teacher professional development and after-school programs—as well as in early childhood education, child care and ways to make college more affordable. It would start making good on promises previous presidents and Congress have made to kids who have special needs. And it would focus on equity by targeting resources to our most vulnerable children and high-need schools.

“The investments House Democrats put forward in their budget stand in stark contrast to the deep cuts President Trump and Secretary DeVos are proposing. At a time when 25 states still spend less on public schools than before the Great Recession, and with the teacher uprisings spotlighting how disinvestment has harmed our students, schools and profession, Democrats are stepping up with a plan to reverse a decade of disinvestment. At the same time, Trump and DeVos are doubling down on their agenda to defund and privatize our public schools with a budget that cuts education by 10 percent. Parents, teachers and communities can see who is on the side of kids and public schools. It’s time to fund our future by passing the Democratic budget for our public schools.”

AFT President Randi Weingarten on Sen. Warren’s Student Debt and College Affordability Proposals

For Immediate Release
April 22, 2019

Contact:
Marcus Mrowka
202-531-0689
mmrowka@aft.org
www.aft.org

AFT President Randi Weingarten on Sen. Warren’s Student Debt and College Affordability Proposals

WASHINGTON—Statement by AFT President Randi Weingarten on Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s proposals on student debt and college affordability:

“Sen. Warren’s student-debt and college-affordability proposals give the current generation a chance at financial health. These proposals are as consequential as the GI Bill and would be a game-changer for millions of Americans being crushed by $1.5 trillion in student debt.

“Going to college shouldn't result in a lifetime sentence of student debt, but that is exactly what is happening and it’s only getting worse. Sen. Warren's plan would release Americans from their debt sentence so they can live their lives, care for their families and have a fair shot at the American dream. Not only would it wipe out student debt for most Americans, it would do so automatically and immediately, so people wouldn't have to worry about being approved or dealing with confusing paperwork. Also, Sen. Warren would improve the Public Student Loan Forgiveness program for any debt that remains, so it will actually work for teachers, nurses and others who devote their lives to serving children and communities. And this plan’s investment in public higher education would fund our future so that we, as a nation, never end up in this situation again.

"America's student debt crisis is an epidemic that is ruining peoples' lives and hurting our economy, and it demands immediate action. I hear from AFT members almost daily—from new educators who can’t stay in the profession because they’re defaulting on their loans, to experienced professionals who can’t retire because they can’t afford payments on their kids’ loans or are still paying off their own loans. Teachers are taking on more student debt to be able to do their jobs and serve their students, and at the same time their wages are declining and the cost of their healthcare benefits is rising. Yet instead of providing them relief and helping them stay in the classroom, Secretary Betsy DeVos and President Trump have completely sabotaged the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, and aided and abetted nefarious student loan companies like Navient and for-profit colleges that prey on students.

“Americans want and deserve leaders who will help them secure a better life, and taking on the issue of student debt is central to that effort. This fight isn't new to Sen. Warren, who for years has been championing solutions to the student debt crisis and taking on the bad actors that prey on and profit from students—as a professor, as an advocate, at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and as a senator. We are glad to see her continue her advocacy on behalf of students and families as a presidential candidate.”

AFT President Randi Weingarten on the Senate Introduction of the Medicare for All Act of 2019

For Immediate Release
April 10, 2019

Contact:
Sarah Hager
803-493-5180
shager@aft.org
www.aft.org

AFT President Randi Weingarten on the Senate Introduction of the Medicare for All Act of 2019

WASHINGTON— AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement today in support of the introduction of the Medicare for All Act of 2019:

“Healthcare in the United States should be a right, not a privilege. But for far too many families, the ability to go to the doctor when they’re sick, afford their prescriptions, and access critical care is further and further out of reach. While previous presidents and Congress have understood and taken steps toward this goal, that changed in the 1990s as a result of an unholy alliance between drug companies and insurance companies. This attack on healthcare was then fueled by right-wing market extremists who did everything in their power to destroy Obamacare.

“Today, the Trump administration and the Republicans in Congress continue to sabotage Americans’ access to affordable healthcare: They’re trying to gut protections for the millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions, restricting access to crucial preventive care, undermining reproductive health services, and providing tax breaks to corporations that buy up community hospitals and then harm the people who work there and the patients they serve.

“From many different vantage points—as a daughter of an aging parent, a local union president, the chair of New York City’s Municipal Labor Committee, a negotiator of dozens of union healthcare contracts, and the president of the nation’s second-largest union of healthcare professionals—I have seen how a lack of coverage can lead to anxiety, lack of care, financial catastrophe, bankruptcy and death. And I believe we have a moral obligation as a country to do something.

“It’s time Americans have a long-term sustainable solution. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All Act is one such solution. I thank him for proposing one option among several potential paths to achieve this goal.”

REVIEW AND COMMENT - System Procedure 3.32.1 College Faculty Credentialing and System Procedure 3.36.1 Academic Programs

TO:

Inter Faculty Organization
Minnesota State College Faculty
Minnesota State University Association of

     Administrative and Service Faculty
LeadMN - Minnesota State College Student Association
Students United - Minnesota State University Student Association

Minnesota Association of Professional Employees

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

Middle Management Association

Colleagues,

There is are two system procedures that are available for review and comment.  The procedures are located on the P&P review site at https://mnscu.sharepoint.com/sites/policy/SitePages/Reviews.aspx.  You may log in using your [StarID]@minnstate.edu and your regular password. Please share this correspondence with your leadership members, constituents, and other appropriate personnel for review and comment.  

• System Procedure 3.32.1 College Faculty Credentialing System
• System Procedure 3.36.1 Academic Programs

Any questions on the policies, or how to leave a comment can be referred to Gary Hunter at gary.hunter@minnstate.edu or 651-201-1659.

Responses are requested by Thursday, May 16, 2019.

AFT President Randi Weingarten on the Introduction of the Tax Fairness for Workers Act

For Immediate Release
April 5, 2019

Contact:
Sarah Hager
803-493-5180
shager@aft.org
www.aft.org

AFT President Randi Weingarten on the Introduction of the Tax Fairness for Workers Act

WASHINGTON—Statement of American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten on the introduction of the Tax Fairness for Workers Act, a bill to restore tax deductions for union dues:

“When President Trump was on the campaign trail in 2016, he ran as a populist and pledged that the ‘American worker will finally have a president who will protect them and fight for them.’ But, the truth is, he has governed for the rich at the expense of working people. There’s no better example of this than his signature tax cuts, which gave corporations a windfall and left working people with massive tax bills, suddenly unable to deduct expenses incurred for their jobs, their healthcare and their homes.

“Unions are one of the most critical tools that make it easier for workers to succeed and provide a better life for themselves, their families and their communities. That is why the Tax Fairness for Workers Act is so important. The bill offsets some of the additional burdens placed on unionized workers by the GOP tax bill by reinstating the deduction for unreimbursed employee expenses and eligible union dues. It is time we pass legislation that actually empowers American workers, not creates additional roadblocks in their pursuit of a better life.”

AFT President Reacts to Rutgers Diversity Initiative

For Immediate Release
April 4, 2019

Contact:
Andrew Crook
o: 202-393-8637
c: 607-280-6603
acrook@aft.org
www.aft.org

AFT President Reacts to Rutgers Diversity Initiative

Multiyear Campaign by Faculty and Graduate Employees Bears Fruit

WASHINGTON—American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement in response to the announcement that Rutgers University would add $20 million to its faculty diversity initiative. At Rutgers, 4,800 faculty and graduate employees have been working without a contract for nine months, and the decision came after a long campaign waged by Rutgers AAUP-AFT.

“This is a good news day at Rutgers. While it took too long, President Barchi chose to prioritize the university’s spending to match the goals, ideals and needs of the students who go to Rutgers, and the educators who teach there. Diversity matters, and I am so proud of the faculty and graduate employees who have campaigned for years for this new policy.

“As Frederick Douglass said, ‘Power concedes nothing without a demand,’ and this demand was shouted from the rooftops. For two years, the union researched a gender and race equity proposal. Now, those efforts have won a dedicated funding stream to recruit, mentor and retain diverse scholars, particularly from underrepresented fields. Exposure to new knowledge and ideas from multiple perspectives is, in fact, what higher education is all about.

“It’s no secret that we are in a tough collective bargaining struggle with the management of this great university. We call on President Barchi to use this moment for a reset—to work with, rather than against, his faculty and graduate employees to implement this plan. It’s an important first step, but the president has a long way to go if he wants to restore trust and build a sustainable and collaborative partnership with the workers that make Rutgers a world-renowned institution for research, teaching and learning.”

April 4 edition, Pension Issues in the News

APRIL 4, 2019

MINNESOTA NEWS + OPINION

With first deadline, session picks up steam

Austin Herald

It permits Austin to allocate a portion of fire state aid to pay employer ... behalf of firefighters covered by the Public Employee Retirement Association Police ... The first was urgent funding for the Minnesota Licensing and Registration ...

Minnesota State Board of Investment approves $150m commitment

Private Debt Investor

Minnesota State Board of Investment approves $150m commitment. The US public pension has backed a fund focused on acquiring distressed debt.

NATIONAL NEWS + OPINION

States Need to Spend on Infrastructure. Pension Shortfalls Are Getting In the Way.

Barron's

The U.S. can have sound public pensions or sound infrastructure. Choose one. States and municipalities face the twin crises of collapsing bridges and ...

Public Employees Are Living Longer Than Previously Assumed, New Report Finds

Reason Foundation

This could mean higher costs of pre-funding benefits for many small to mid-sized public pension plans.

Insights

Ice Miller LLP

Two recent state supreme court cases considered whether public pension participants are entitled to a particular benefit once offered through their ...

Here's How Much Public Pensions Are In The Hole By Per US Resident

ValueWalk Premium

A new report pegs U.S. public pensions' unfunded liabilities at nearly $6 trillion as of 2018. That amounts to a whopping $18,300 per U.S. resident.

How Public Pensions Could Trigger The Next Financial Crisis

ValueWalk

Public pension funds continue to demonstrate their bottomless appetite for credit and related products. However, the repeated setting of new records ...

A Lesson in Fiduciary Responsibility for Jamie Dimon

Forbes

Public pensions have been particularly targeted by activists in this space and have been for more than 20 years. Take for example my time as ...

NC wants retired teachers back. Bill would let them teach without hurting benefits.

Raleigh News & Observer

... North Carolina teachers to return to teach in high-needs public schools. ... could earn $35,000 to $40,000 a year and still collect their current pensions. ... of retired teachers to return to work full-time in the state's public schools, ...

Economic Insecurity Is Becoming the New Hallmark of Old Age

The Nation

The United States is in the early stages of a crippling retirement crisis. ... and public-sector civil servants in cities plagued by budget crises (read: Detroit). ... Pensions are regarded by most workers as among the most binding of all ...

State Pensions Plans Are In Bad Shape But Reforms Can Help

Forbes

It's no secret that state public pension systems across the country are in bad shape. A failure to make required contributions coupled with unrealistic ...

NJ Pension System Unlikely to Meet FY2019 7.5% Assumed Rate of Return

NJ Spotlight

Without a big rally by the end of the fiscal year, New Jersey's public-employee pension system doesn't stand a chance of making its 7.5 percent ...

Illinois May Tackle A Piece Of Its Pension Problem After Years Of Inaction

Forbes

The idea of consolidating local public safety pension funds has been swirling around Springfield for years, with no action. With the appointment of ...

Why are teachers calling in sick?

Courier Journal

The new pension bill was tacked onto Senate Bill 151, which originally ... that public education, teachers, and our public pensions are under attack.".

The New Politics of the Retirement Crisis

The New Republic

His wife, Cheri, who was 54, was investigating public records for a title insurance company. Then Jim's diabetes, sleep apnea, and chronic fatigue ...

New Challenges Bring New Militancy to Teacher Strikes

Truthout

Yet the public's belief was — and still is — that all children should be ... smaller class sizes, better and safer working conditions, and even pensions ...

Job Seekers Aren't as Interested in Government Gigs as They Used to Be, Research Shows

Fortune

Public sector jobs are often thought of as more stable and with better benefits, like pensions. But, when it comes to the current bottom line, 85% of ...

Retirees converge on capitol seeking cost-of-living adjustment

Tulsa World

Lynn Stockley, a retired Tulsa Public Schools teacher, noted that the costs of insurance and taxes continue to ... “Our pensions have stayed the same.

Chuck Reed plans to continue statewide pension reform

San José Spotlight

Reed, 71, says he'll continue working on reeling in the exploding costs of public pensions, the signature issue that won him national notoriety as San ...

MainePERS Has Some Suggestions for Struggling Public Pensions

PLANSPONSOR

According to Sandy Matheson, executive director of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), there is good reason to be ...

Unfunded Liabilities in State Pension Plans Significantly Threaten Taxpayers in Nearly Every State

American Legislative Exchange Council

Unfunded Liabilities in State Pension Plans Significantly Threaten ... Public servants like teachers, firefighters and police officers include those at risk.

Opinion: Threatened PERS cuts affect teachers, firefighters and public workers

OregonLive.com

Here is the reality: more than 60 percent of the people working today receive the lowest level of benefits in the Public Employees Retirement System.

Most Teachers Won't Have Enough Retirement Savings Under Pension Plans, Study Finds

Education Week (blog)

State pension plans are leaving all but the longest-serving teachers without ... See also: Teacher Pay: How Salaries, Pensions, and Benefits Work in ... 8 percent of public school teachers are enrolled in defined-contribution plans that ...

Illinois' Tier 2 pensions continue to anger teachers, other public employees

The State Journal-Register

Officials from several public employee groups told state lawmakers Thursday that the pension reform measures enacted in 2010 are patently unfair ...

AFT Stands with Congressional Efforts to Protect Americans’ Healthcare

For Immediate Release
April 2, 2019

Contact:
Oriana Korin
202-374-6103
okorin@aft.org
www.aft.org

AFT Stands with Congressional Efforts to Protect Americans’ Healthcare

WASHINGTON—AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement in response to the introduction of H. Res. 271, a resolution condemning the Trump administration’s campaign to take away Americans’ healthcare.

“President Trump’s first decision after Robert Mueller issued his report was to try to end-run Congress and use the courts to strip healthcare from 133 million people with pre-existing conditions. Why would a president put the lives of the very people who voted for him—the very people he promised to protect—in clear and immediate danger?

“This attempt to strip people of healthcare would be a craven act at any time, but done now, as soon as the president believed he had averted criminal prosecution, smacks of vengeance.

“The facts are grim: Most Americans say they couldn’t afford a health emergency that costs more than $400. While most First-World countries have managed to offer people basic healthcare as a human right, in the U.S.—the wealthiest country in the world—many educators, nurses, public employees and graduate assistants live one illness or one pre-existing condition away from bankruptcy.

“That’s why this move to make healthcare more expensive—or completely inaccessible—is so cruel and callous. This does not reflect our values, it won’t help Americans to have a better life, and it certainly won’t make America great.

“Thankfully, Democrats in Congress are fighting back, first by condemning the president’s assault on the healthcare law, and second by working to strengthen and improve the way people access care for their families. Americans expect their elected officials to help solve these problems, not make them worse. That’s why they elected so many Democrats last November, and that’s what they’re focusing on now as they look ahead to 2020.”