AFT-NH Legislative Bulletin, 2021-19

Bow, NH ~ May 28, 2021

We are heading to the end of the legislative session. The House will meet twice next week to finish their bills and the Senate will meet next week as well to finish their work which includes the budget (more on that in a minute). The last day of the legislative session is June 24. Once the House and Senate finish their work next week, they will begin the Committees of Conference process where they will work to figure out differences to bills that passed either the House or Senate with amendments. This will include the budget. Committee of Conference will form on June 10th and their work will conclude on the 17th. After that,  the House and Senate will have to vote on whether they will accept the bills as amended so they will become law. That will happen on the 24th.

NHFT Election Notice

NHFT Local 933 Election Notice

A secret ballot election for the office of President is being conducted by mail. Ballots for this election are being mailed to members on May 20, 2021. Any eligible member who has not received a ballot at their home address by May 24, 2021 or any member who spoils a ballot may request a new ballot by contacting MK Elections via email at nhft_election@mkelections.com.

Write to Senate Education Committee to Help Our Bus Drivers!

House Bill 364 will be up for a vote this week in the Senate Education Committee. This bill is desperately needed to adjust the bus owner/operator operational pay formula that has stayed the same for over 3 decades while the cost of everything has risen. The money is used to ensure buses are well maintained and saves bus owners from having to come out of pocket to keep their buses safely on the road.

Click here to send a message to the Committee!

AFT-W to State Legislature: Support Transgender Students

President Kim Kohlhaas has sent letters to the state legislative committees considering legislation that would prevent transgender students from fully participating in sports aligned with their identity: "These bills won’t make sports safer or fairer for any student—they would only stigmatize and exclude a group of students who already face high levels of discrimination... Wisconsin’s teachers, faculty, and staff oppose any bill that hurts transgender youth from passing out of the legislature." You can read the (identical) letters in full here:

Action Alert: Fighting For Pay Raises

Late Monday afternoon, the Senate Finance Committee finalized their budget, which includes the additional revenue recognized by the REC last week. Despite commitments from multiple legislators, including Senate Finance Chairman Bodi White, none of the additional revenue went towards teacher and school employee pay raises.
 
It’s time for Louisiana legislators to step up and show teachers that their profession is worthwhile and their work is important. Otherwise we will keep losing our talented educators and Louisiana's students will continue to fall behind. When schools reopened this past fall, Louisiana’s teachers and support staff were there in the schools, transporting, feeding and teaching our children. Unlike their counterparts in other parts of the country they were there for our children despite fear for their health and the health of their families. They stepped up and did their part. It’s is time for our elected officials step up and do theirs
 

Join us in asking the Senate to amend the budget and increase pay raises for teachers and school employees.

2021 AFT-NH Honey Cascio and Billy Donovan Scholarships Available

AFT-NH is proud to award two $1,000 scholarships for the 2021-22 academic year. The Cascio scholarship will be offered to one graduating senior who has been accepted at an institution of higher learning, while the Donovan scholarship will go to one continuing student at an accredited institution of higher learning for the 2021-2022 academic year.  Prior scholarship winners are ineligible

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