The AFL-CIO has launched its 2012 AFL-CIO Executive Paywatch site—now called CEO Pay and the 99%—which includes the most comprehensive data available on 2011 executive pay. All the data available is searchable by industry, by state and by the top 100 highest-paid CEOs.

In her latest column appearing in the New York Times, AFT president Randi Weingarten describes how the AFT Innovation Fund is providing an alternative to school reform efforts that ignore the expertise of educators and their unions. The fund supports AFT affiliates that engaged in collaborative efforts that focus on promising ideas and proven programs that can be scaled up. Read the full column.

Many studies over the years have documented the need for smoother transitions from prekindergarten to the elementary level. A new AFT report reinforces that conclusion—and does it in a manner that puts frontline voices at the heart of the dialogue.

Senator King developed and presented a Service-Based Pension Plan to the KPERS Study Commission on December 7th. The Commission accepted this plan with an 8 - 5 vote. The new plan is essentially a Hybrid Plan which will contain two components: a defined benefit cash balance plan, and a defined contribution 401(k) or 414(k) plan. The current KPERS defined benefit plan (as modified by HB 2194) will remain in place for current, vested participants but will be closed to new entries. Overall the plan will shift all risk from the state to the employee. The new plan has an estimated 4% higher cost for the state than the estimated cost of HB 2194 passed by the 2011 Legislature and signed into law by the Governor. Below is a summary of Senator King’s plan which will be formatted into a bill and introduced to the 2012 Legislature for consideration.

The citizens of Ohio took back their state with a historic vote on Nov. 8 to repeal Senate Bill 5. The vote, which marks the first time that the collective bargaining rights of public employees have been upheld on a statewide ballot, sends a clear signal that Ohioans will not sit idly by while politicians scapegoat hard-working public employees for an economic crisis they did not create.

 

President Obama's bold plan—the American Jobs Act—is the right antidote to help solve our persistent economic problems, AFT president Randi Weingarten says.

Two longtime union activists and education reformers are assuming new roles in AFT's leadership, AFT president Randi Weingarten announced on Sept. 9.

Big changes could be happening in the near future for our members in Kansas. To keep up with fast-acting legislators and governor, we need to be prepared for anything so we have launched a new program called Saving Kansas Communities.

One of the goals of the program is to keep AFT-Kansas teachers, healthcare professionals, and public employees up to date on critical legislation by text message. This service will allow you to find out what is happening first!

There are to ways to sign-up.

Using your mobile phone right now, send a text message with the word AFTKS to 738674. We will send you text messages with details on how you can participate in upcoming actions.

Or, you can simply provide your phone number below, and click submit.

*While AFT-Kansas will never charge you for text messages, your carrier's Message & Data rates may apply.

Topeka, KS - More than 1,000 working Kansans rallied against legislation proposed to curb worker's rights to organize and participate in the political process. View photos from the rally here or on the AFT-Kansas facebook page.