News and Advocacy

Kia Banks Addresses Chicago Board of Education

Good morning, I don’t have to tell you school leaders in Chicago Public Schools are busy people.

CPAA Thanks Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova on Her Next Chapter

The Chicago Principals and Administrators Association (CPAA), the union representing Chicago’s principals and assistant principals, extend

DOE’s Withholding of $6.9 Billion in FY2025 K-12 Funding Threatens Student Success and Paralyzes School Systems Nationwide

School leaders now face the impossible task of opening schools without knowing whether the federal funds they relied on will arrive—or when.

School Leaders, Educators and Public Employees Win Social Security Fairness

President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law, marking a key moment in the retirement security of public employees.

Fatal Job Injuries Hit 20-Year Low

The number of fatal occupational injuries hit a 20-year in 2023, the Department of Labor (DOL) reported.

DOL hailed the progress while saying one death is one too many. Unions countered with “that’s nice, but…” statements showing fatal injury rates among workers of color are still too high and that current progress is in peril from the incoming Republican regime. And there’s still a massive undercount of on-the-job fatalities.

AFL-CIO Announces Dr. Darrick Hamilton as New Chief Economist

The AFL-CIO has named Dr. Darrick Hamilton to serve as the next chief economist for the federation.

Frances Perkins Was Moving Force for Workers

Perkins served as the fourth U.S. secretary of labor from 1933 to 1945, the longest-serving person in that position. Perkins was the first woman ever to serve in a presidential Cabinet.

Seven Students Named 2024 Diann Woodard Scholarship Honorees

For 2024 AFSA picked seven remarkable individuals who have demonstrated not only academic excellence, but also a profound dedication to community service and a commendable work ethic.

2025 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference

The 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference takes place in Austin, Texas, Jan. 9–12.