APA Executive Board members past and present gathered on Friday, May 6th along with our NYSUT LRS Jim Henck to pay tribute to friend and colleague Jerry Brown as he leaves the Mohawk Valley for his new home in the Rochester area. 

Jerry will be sorely missed.  Having served as founding Treasurer and as Chair of our first Negotiating Team, he has had an indispensable role in bringing our union into existence and ensuring a strong foundation for the future.  We owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for his many contributions, for his generous gift of time and talent.   We wouldn't be where we are without him.

Here, President Kay Chester presents a certificate of appreciation on behalf of us all.

Unions are only as strong as the solidarity they create. They often find their strength in numbers, as they connect different people with different interest to one goal. To that end, members & staff of AFT-Maryland took to the picket line to support their sisters and brothers in labor from the Communication Workers Association (CWA).

Call and tell your Senator to oppose the legislation that attacks Detroit Public Schools. Tell him/her to stand up for legislation that adequately funds Detroit Public Schools to ensure our kids have the schools they deserve, local control is returned to the district and the community, a Detroit Education Commission is in place to bring coordination to educational options in the city, and teachers and school staff have jobs.

A group of smiling APA members gathered around our local's colorful new banner after the General Membership Meeting on May 4.  Thanks to President Kay Chester, we now have two of these, our latest effort to become more visible on campus.  They will be useful for dressing up tables at Adjunct Orientation and at any other future member outreach events.  Watch for them!

APA Secretary (and unofficial photographer) Rob Ichihana snapped this shot after a productive meeting, where our 2016-2017 budget was presented and approved and print copies of our new contract were distributed.  

Michigan House Republicans made it clear with their early morning vote that they plan to destroy Detroit’s public education system, take away the rights of educators and school staff, and bust the union. Under cover of darkness at 4 a.m. today, lawmakers passed some of the worst bills we have ever seen, all targeting the Detroit public school system—which overwhelmingly serves black and brown children.

May all the care and kindness you give to others
come back to warm your heart!

HAPPY NURSES DAY!
Friday, May 6th, 2016

When the call went out to assist DFT member Deborah Martins of Bow Elementary School, who was in urgent need of donated sick days, members answered in a generous way. Deborah wants to make sure her sincere thanks are heard:

Thank You For Your Support
My heartfelt thanks to you for being there during my time of need. My love to you and yours.
Please accept  my thanks for all that you have done to help me. I appreciate you so much.
--Deborah Martins

Join us for Union Day, Thurs. May 12th. Come and meet representatives from the Baltimore County Federation of Public Employees and the Baltimore County Federation of Public Health Nurses.

Join us for Union Day, Thurs. May 12th. Come and meet representatives from the Baltimore County Federation of Public Employees and the Baltimore County Federation of Public Health Nurses.

Kathy Evert, a fourth grade teacher at Mazomanie Elementary in the Wisconsin Heights School District, is one of a group of teachers from around the country invited to the White House for President Barack Obama’s celebration of Teacher Appreciation Day on Tuesday, May 3.  At the event, according to the White House, President Obama will recognize the National Teacher of the Year as well as other outstanding educators from across America.