Every week, Texas AFT compiles important news, updates, and information on public education policy in Texas. The Hotline covers a wide range of topics, including statewide education news, updates from the legislative session, and our current union campaigns.
Friday, March 14, 2025 'Whose Union? Our Union.’ On Monday, 500 Texas AFT members, parents, and students traveled to the Capitol to make their voices heard. (More on that below.) Why? Because, as Texas AFT President Zeph Capo reminded us, no one is coming to save us. It’s up to us to work together for thriving public schools, colleges, and...
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Saturday, March 8, 2025 Left to Right: Texas AFT Retiree Plus Member Margaret Daniels with Education Austin Members Megan Vasquez, Taylor Cavin, Megan Holden, and Mallory Vinson. Every Voice Matters “Every staff cut directly harms students. The rising cost of living is overwhelming. Without salary raises to match inflation, I'm...
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Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 History repeats itself Gov. Greg Abbott has done a marvelous job manufacturing momentum for private school vouchers, a policy “solution” that is bankrupting other states, has provided no tangible benefit to student learning outcomes, and is manifestly unpopular when put directly to voters. If it feels...
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Friday, Feb. 21, 2025 ‘The Votes Are Not There’ In case you missed it, we were joined by Rep. Aicha Davis for last night’s Organizing Texas meeting. Davis was able to boost morale during these ... constantly upsetting times. Watch the full recording here. Of the bigger points she made...
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Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 Show us the love We’re just educators, standing front of a Legislature, asking it to fund us. As we've said, we’re ready to work with any lawmaker who's willing to prioritize our public schools and everyone who works and learns inside of them. Our members have...
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Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 2025 prices, 2019 dollars What a month this week has been, huh? We’ll get it into the details of chaos at the federal level, Gov. Abbott’s State of the State address, and the vote on vouchers in the Texas Senate later in this Hotline. But first,...
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Friday, Jan. 31, 2025 Via Texas AFL-CIO Good news?! In an exceptionally long and fraught January, here’s a glimmer of good news. This week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its annual report on union density in the country, showing that the number of Texas union members is the...
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Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 Leaders from Texas AFT K-12 and higher education local unions statewide visited legislators’ offices last week on the opening day of the 89th Legislature. In conversations with lawmakers and staff, they discussed the pressing need to pass our Educator’s Bill of Rights and fully fund our public...
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Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 Your work has dignity. Your work has worth. Monday, Jan. 20, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a time to reflect on the legacy of one of our finest organizers for social justice and a day of service in our communities. Monday is also...
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Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 Time to buckle up. It seems like just yesterday we were living through the fourth special session of the 88th Legislature. And now, the 89th Legislature gavels in next week. Are you ready? This week’s Hotline is filled with the information you need to know going...
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Friday, Dec. 20, 2024 How to make America work for the American working class It has been a contentious and difficult year for all of us, and without a doubt for those that work in our K-12 schools, colleges, and universities. Our schools are struggling. Our kids are struggling. We...
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Friday, Dec. 13, 2024 Common sense for the common good This week, AFT President Randi Weingarten and her wife Sharon Kleinbaum, the Senior Rabbi Emerita of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in New York City, published an opinion piece in the Houston Chronicle. The topic: The State Board of Education's vote in November to...
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Friday, Dec. 6, 2024 Finding common ground We have a mental health crisis among our kids. This much we know; both the data and our experience as teachers and school staff agree. The reasons for it are many and varied, but one that has escaped regulation for too long...
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