News

Tips from public employees on mobilizing members

When the president of Colorado WINS learned that the president of the United States might be targeting Denver next in his anti-immigration campaign of terror, she knew how she’d begin to mobilize. One simple thing Diane Byrne does is deck out her activists in matching T-shirts. Wearing union colors promotes team spirit and builds confidence, she says. The AFT Public Employees program and policy council, meeting in New York City Feb. 5-6, abounded with tips to help locals mobilize. PPC chair Gary Feist, president of North Dakota Public Employees, recommended finding members who can tell a personal story to draw media attention. With more media on the issue, he said, legislators will become more motivated to fix the problem.

Federal immigration actions are rapidly expanding, with deadly consequences. The killings of poet Renee Nicole Good and nurse Alex Pretti by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis have brought intense focus on the use of excessive force. An AFT webinar, co-hosted by AFT President Randi Weingarten and AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang on Jan. 28, featured experts on immigration and the law. It highlighted AFT resources and showcased how our locals are showing up to minimize fear and trauma.

On Aug. 14, Social Security will mark its 90th anniversary—but instead of celebrating, labor leaders and activists say the program faces the gravest threats in its history. Speaking during a virtual town hall on Aug. 7, AFT President Randi Weingarten warned that the Trump administration is pursuing policies aimed at dismantling Social Security. “They’re not going to tell people that they don’t want it,” she said. “We have to fight in every which way we can, particularly those of us who are not yet on Social Security, … for people to have it and to keep it … for our children and our

WIARA

WIARA is working to empower union retirees to act to make retirement beneficial to all.

POWRS

POWRS is a group of Wisconsin retirees working to assure retirement security for ALL Wisconsin citizens. POWRS:

- Advocates to protect the Wisconsin Retirement System (public employee retirement program)
- Supports secure, defined benefits programs for Wisconsin private sector employees andbusinesses
- Works to strengthen and protect Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare

Save Social Security

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWpFBfQEW3o

WiARA

https://captimes.com/news/government/absentee-voting-rules-violate-wisc…

Randi Weingarten at a Massachusetts high school

Summer is upon us, and parents, children and teachers are winding down from what has been an exhausting and fully operational school year—the first since the devastating pandemic. The long-lasting impact of COVID-19 has affected our students’ and families’ well-being and ignited the politics surrounding public schools. All signs point to the coming school year unfolding with the same sound and fury, and if extremist culture warriors have their way, being even more divisive and stressful.

Wisconsin Coalition of Annuitants (WiCOA)

The 2024 WiCOA Annual Convention will be held virtually on May 22 and May 23. You may register for the event on their website at:

https://www.wicoa.org.

Your representatives to the coalition are Bob Beglinger and Kathy Kreul.

Minocqua Joint Finance Committee Meeting

Minocqua Joint Finance Committee Hearing

WHEN: Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

WHERE: Lakeland Union High School Theatre, 9573 State Highway 70, Minocqua, WI 54548