Three National Education Association (NEA) chapters with more than 3,000 teachers and other education professionals in California, Massachusetts and Wisconsin affiliated with the AFL-CIO today at the federation's Executive Council meeting that wrapped up this afternoon in Chicago. In a related development, the council also approved a policy statement extending the AFL-CIO's Solidarity Charter program until the 2009 AFL-CIO Convention.
The new NEA affiliations mean those chapters will be able to join with local AFL-CIO central labor councils and state federations to work together to meet the needs of teachers and students and all working families in the fight for health care retirement security and good jobs. Says AFL-CIO President John Sweeney:
Teachers and education professionals are being assaulted by the lack of funding for public education. Today's affiliation means greater collaboration in the fight to save our schools and protect our children's education.
We're the 2.1 million union members who are veterans of military service. We respect John McCain's service—and urge him to respect ours. But McCain has opposed increased funding for veterans health care and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Find out about McCain's record on veterans issues here.
Winners of the AFL-CIO "Turn Around America Online Video Competition" have been chosen. The grand prize goes to Michael Newman, 19, of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
