Monday, May 17, 2021 – Wisconsin Coalition of Annuitants

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

View this FREE webinar from the comfort of your own home. Hear from:

David Stein, Chairman of SWIB Board of Trustees

Edwin Denson, Executive Director/Chief Investment Officer, SWIB
and John Voelker, Secretary of ETF.

For more details and to register, go to Wisconsin Coalition of Annuitants (wicoa.org)

Wednesday, May 19, 2021 -- Wisconsin Democracy Campaign's Virtual Gathering   

RSVP by Sunday, May 16 via link below.

Agenda

5:00 – 5:30 Welcome and a Year in Review

5:30 – 5:40 Bruce Murphy: Media Democracy -- Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and Media in Wisconsin

5:40 – 6:00 Keynote Speaker Rep. Francesca Hong: Democracy, Racial Equity, and Economic Justice

6:00 – 6:30 Q&A

For more details & RSVP, go to Wisconsin Democracy Campaign's Virtual Gathering 2021 - Wisconsin Democracy Campaign (wisdc.org)

As the BFP negotiations team continues to work toward a settlement of the 2019-21 contract, there are times when we need they need help.  It is time for members to lend that help.  The BFP is planning two organizing activities for May.

                                            By Bobbie Margo 

                                              by Bobbie Margo 

Support FCTA member Meg Comerford in her bid to the Hamburg Town Council!

Endorsed by both the FCTA and the Buffalo Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, Meg will bring a much-needed perspective to the Council.

Check out http://www.votemeg.com to get a lawn sign, make a donation, or sign up to volunteer! 

Remember: Early Voting starts June 12 at the Moose Lodge on Church St. in the Village!

Let's help get the word out!

May 2, 2021 ~ Bow, NH

This is a very short bulletin for the upcoming week.  The most important action is the public hearing on the State budget, to be held by the Senate Finance Committee this coming Tuesday, May 4. There are actually two hearings, starting at 1 pm and again at 6 pm, though this is largely a ploy to allow time for senators to take a break and grab some dinner.

Why is this important?  It is the only opportunity for the public to weigh in on possible additions and deletions to the State budget.  After this, much of the work will be done behind closed doors amongst Senators, the governor, and House Republican leadership, with a budget to be voted upon by the Senate at the start of June and sent back to the House for either acceptance, rejection, or a Committee of Conference to try to iron out differences between House and Senate versions.

What can you do?  Register your opposition to the bills in question (HB1 or HB2, does not really matter) but even better sign up to write to members of the Senate Finance Committee.    Write to the senators--make your voice heard!!  Links for registering opposition and for writing to senators are below. What follows are the primary points of concern to AFT-NH, but we have additional useful material that can be made available to you.

Hear what two of our members, Asha Wallace and Connie Simons, had to say about an AFT CT webinar about workplace bullying in health care they attended this spring.

The MFP is Sent Back to BESE
On Thursday, the Senate Education Committee considered SCR 2, which is the legislative vehicle for the MFP – the school funding formula. The Committee decided to return the MFP to the Board of Elementary and ask that they increase the teacher/school employee pay raise. The recommendation they submitted to BESE, calls for a $1,000 increase for teachers/certified personnel and $500 for uncertified personnel.