GET-UP is not just a group of graduate students, a campaign to be recognized as employees, and a venue for grievances: we are a union. A union is both a community of interest that unites for the purposes of collectively bargaining a contract and a collective of people who have each other’s backs. We believe that a contract produced by collective bargaining could address general and specific issues facing graduate students, as well as guarantee more democratic avenues for grads to participate in the institution.

Dear Friends,

My name is Daniel Pieczkolon and I’m an adjunct in the English department at Arcadia University. I’m excited to announce that we’ve just filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board to form a union at Arcadia!

Negotiations Update

While we were unable to reach a settlement, a considerable amount of work was done at the February 15 mediation session.  The mediator made a proposal for compensation that he believes is fair to MHFT and the District. He directed both sides to present this to their leadership (our Executive Council and the School Board). If both parties agree to the mediator’s proposal, he believes that we can reach a settlement soon.

Dear Colleagues,

Last year, the Newark Teachers Union recognized 14 members who were nominated by their peers to be recognized for their service for the students and community of Newark.  

Who are these members?  They’re the ones who when you’re putting up a bulletin board stop and help you cutting into their own lunch period. They’re the ones who ask staff centric questions at staff meetings and get away with it because they’re knowledgeable and respected by colleagues and administration alike.

​Colleagues,

This past week the House was once again, not in session, while House committees finished work on a tidal wave of bills, which will hit the House floor for votes beginning Wednesday, March 8.  Still, even without the House in full session, there were some interesting developments, including some good news! March 9^th is the last day for the House to act on house bills not referred to a second committee. March 16^th is the last day to act on all bills going to a second committee except budget bills. In addition, the last day for budget bills to be acted upon is April 6^th.

The Public Funding for Public Schools Coalition held a press conference Tuesday February 28, 2017 to call on the Maryland General Assembly to defund Governor Hogan’s BOOST funding in his budget. The coalition brought together a wide range of educational advocates who all want to see public dollars be used on public schools.

A Baltimore Teachers Union member and an AFT-Maryland staff member testified before the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday, February 28 in support of House Bill 978, loosely referred to as the Protect Our Schools Act of 2017. The bill is a follow up of the Federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

CFT/CFOP and CFT-Retirees are concerned about decisions facing the STRS Ohio Board and the impact their decisions will have on the stability of our retirement fund.

It has come to our attention that the STRS Board members will soon make decisions that may impact:

AFT-Maryland and Baltimore Teachers Union members testified before the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday, February 28, 2017, in opposition to HB 878, a proposed expansion in current state charter school laws. Maryland already has some of the best, strongest charter laws in the nation, and our members want to keep it that way.