Randi Weingarten 🖇️📚✊🇺🇸

We just wrapped the 6th of our 7 @aft.org leader meetings, this time in Houston with leaders from across the Southwest Mountain Region. Educators, healthcare workers, higher ed faculty & staff, and public employees came together to plan how we fight for a better life for all.

Are Rising Employee Health Insurance Costs Dampening Wage Growth? - Liberty Street Economics A look at the effect of rising health insurance costs on wage growth using the New York Fed’s February regional business surveys.

Rising health insurance costs are putting pressure on wages. Research shows wage growth could be higher if employer health insurance costs were not rising so quickly.
libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2026/03/are-...

Fight for Affordability

Workers deserve to thrive—that’s why we launched Fight for Affordability.
It shouldn’t take everything you’ve got just to cover rent, groceries or a doctor’s visit. We’re taking on junk fees and surprise bills—and fighting for you. aft.org/affordability

United States: American Federation of Teachers mobilises communities across the country to advocate for schools and families As part of its nationwide “Protect Our Kids, Our Families and Our Communities” mobilisation, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) brought together a broad coalition of educators, parents, and com...

Thank you @eduinternational.bsky.social for highlighting @AFT.org’s March 4 day of action to protect our kids, families and communities. When educators, healthcare workers and communities come together, we can stand up for opportunity, dignity and a better life for all. www.ei-ie.org/en/item/3219...

From Selma to Montgomery: Voting Rights Act 1965 Students will learn about the 1965 marches from Selma to Montgomery during the Civil Rights Movement. They will examine the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and watch clips from the movie Selma.

Today is the 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday. As we reflect on that history & the 60th anniversary of SCOTUS upholding the Voting Rights Act, help students understand why protecting democracy still matters with this @sharemylesson.bsky.social resource: sharemylesson.com/teaching-res...

Group of Portland Community College students gather to support possible staff strike Music and sonic art students at Portland Community College’s Cascade Campus met Friday night as students brace for their program to be cut due to budget reductions.

Students at Portland Community College are standing with their educators & school staff in the fight against budget cuts. www.kptv.com/video/2026/0...

People of faith have long stood with workers in the fight for dignity, fair wages and justice. In this video, Christian faith leaders explain why protecting workers and standing up to exploitation isn’t just economic or political. It’s a moral calling. bsky.app/profile/aft....

While AFT leaders were gathered in Houston, we took a moment to show solidarity with the members of the AFT’s Overseas Federation of Teachers, including those in Bahrain who support military families every day. Keeping our members and the families they serve safe remains our priority.

Why Target is at the Center of an ICE-Out Campaign in Minnesota - Workday Magazine ICE Out of MN, a coalition of unions, worker centers, and community organizations, is putting pressure on Minnesota’s corporations that stayed silent as thousands of federal immigration agents wreaked...

Great interview on why boycott Target. workdaymagazine.org/why-target-i...

Have questions about what to do next? Come to our next AFT student debt clinic March 12. www.aft.org/pslf

Working people are getting whiplash trying to follow the republicans attempts to kill the most affordable student loan repayment plan in history, the SAVE plan. If you were enrolled in SAVE click here.

AFT Student Debt Survey Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

While the republicans play ping-pong with the most affordable student loan repayment plan on the planet, the SAVE plan, real folks are falling off the default cliff & emptying their wallets. If you were enrolled in SAVE and sick of being in legal limbo, fill this out. www.surveymonkey.com/r/8BRYVMS

🧪More than 327,000 federal jobs have been lost since Trump took office, this includes 95,000 employees in science jobs across the federal government.

✈️The hospitality sector lost 27,000 jobs in February. Trump’s immigration crackdown is scaring workers and discouraging international tourism.

🌎President Biden's investments in clean energy were fueling a manufacturing boom, Trump's policies have cancelled or delayed projects impacting almost 70,000 jobs

🧑‍🏭Trump promised to bring back manufacturing, instead, more than 100K manufacturing jobs have been lost

The U.S. labor market lost 92,000 jobs in February in warning sign for economy With the unexpected setback, the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4 percent, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Today's jobs numbers show the impact of an administration antagonistic to public service, clean energy, science, and immigrants. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

ProPublica Sues Education Department for Withholding Records About Discrimination in Schools Under Secretary Linda McMahon, the work of the Office for Civil Rights, which aims to protect students from discrimination, is cloaked in secrecy.

Civil rights protections in schools should apply to every student, not just the ones a political agenda chooses to prioritize. And when the govt refuses to release records about how it’s enforcing those protections, it undermines transparency and accountability. www.propublica.org/article/educ...

Women's History Lesson Plans and Resources Explore Women's History lesson plans and resources to share with your classroom and discover the legacy of the women that shaped the world.

During #WomensHistoryMonth, we take the opportunity to not only reflect on trailblazers for equality and representation, but also engage young people in the ongoing struggle. Check out @sharemylesson.bsky.social's women's history teaching resources ⤵️ sharemylesson.com/collections/...

Trade-Offs: Taxpayers in the United States and Iran War - $1 Billion/ Day Use NPP's Trade-Off tool to reallocate taxpayer dollars.

Iran War is costing taxpayers $1Billion/Day. Here's what that $ could have paid for instead:
3.88mil Elementary School Teachers for 1yr
2.73mil Registered Nurses for 1yr
21.24mil Head Start Slots for 1yr
9.77mil Borrowers Receiving Forgiveness for 1yr
www.nationalpriorities.org/interactive-...

Democrat’s plan would eliminate federal income taxes for half of U.S. workers Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s tax relief plan could benefit tens of millions of middle-class workers, with a focus on those making at or below a living wage.

For millions of working families across the country, affordability is not just a buzzword. This bill will provide much-needed relief for working Americans by creating an exemption for federal income taxes up to the “cost of living” for low- and middle-income. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Judge rules companies are entitled to refunds for Trump tariffs overturned by the Supreme Court In a defeat for the Trump administration, a federal judge in New York ruled Wednesday that companies that paid tariffs struck down last month by Supreme Court are due refunds.

A federal judge just ruled the U.S. must refund Trump’s illegal tariffs, which should immediately go back into the pockets of consumers. But after years of higher prices and economic chaos, Americans are still paying the price for a policy that never delivered.
apnews.com/article/trum...

Philadelphia teachers, officials rally for Lankenau high school, set to close under school district plan School staff, union leaders and some elected officials are calling for Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School to stay open.

Community members are rallying to save Lankenau Environmental Science High School from a potential closure, to save a school that prepares students to lead in environmental science. www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia...

Too many borrowers are falling behind on student loan repayment - The Boston Globe Colleges, government should help people enter payment plans.

Student loan debt continues to hold millions back—delaying financial security and limiting opportunity. Higher education should open doors, not trap borrowers in long-term debt. www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/05/o...

YouTube video by AFT AFT UPDATE: From the Courts to the Picket Line, We Are Winning ✊

In this week's report, I share the stories of our members across the country as they protected our kids & communities on March 4. Watch here for this & so much more
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL6z...

So honored to be at the House of Hope today for the celebration of Rev Jesse Jackson’s life with his family, past Presidents and VPs and so so many colleagues, friends and people keeping hope alive.

Rev Jackson saw what was on the other side of the bridge-brilliant message by Chicago Mayor @brandonjohanson.bsky.social

Portland-Area Lab Workers Win First Labor Deal The tentative contract comes after doctors, patients and staff raises concerns over North Carolina-based Labcorp’s acquisition of several area labs.

Congratulations to nearly 500 lab workers represented by @ofnhp.bsky.social for winning a first contract with Labcorp! When healthcare workers stand together, they win better pay, protections and respect. www.wweek.com/news/health/...

I spent time w/ Kristen last week in Detroit where I heard firsthand stories of the fear her students are facing and the challenge of making students feel safe at school. I'm so grateful to educators like her for their courageous work.