News and Advocacy

Principals are the backbone of Chicago’s public schools, the steady force ensuring that students and communities thrive despite the turmoil.

Right now, there’s a crucial struggle about to unfold in the Illinois Legislature that will impact every staff member, student, and family in Chicago’s schools.

Thank you to the principals and assistant principals who participated in the Elected School Board Forums last week. It was crucial for laying the groundwork for inclusion after the elections.

AFSA joined dozens of other organization in the following letter.

Nearly 50 years ago, Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act, promising every worker the right to a safe job. Unions and our allies have fought hard to make that promise a reality—winning protections that have made jobs safer and saved lives.

But our work is not done.

What do U.S. voters want? A new poll commissioned by the Alliance for American Manufacturing – a labor and Steelworkers ally – has a succinct answer: Four-fifths want U.S.-made rebuilding of our subways, roads and bridges. Nine percent don’t.

The majority Democrats on the House Education and Labor Committee will push two key pro-worker safety bills this year, but the exact timetable is uncertain.

In an informal conversation after the first congressional briefing in years on worker health and safety, a top committee aide on the issue said he expects the legislation will hit the floor this summer.

It’s called, in political parlance, “a cattle call.” The phrase refers to what happens when presidential hopefuls parade their positions, one by one, before a group, large or small.

And that’s what nine Democrats – John Hickenlooper, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Tim Ryan, Terry McAuliffe, Michael Bennet, Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar and Eric Swalwell, in that order – did before 3,000 construction workers at the April 10 session of North America’s Building Trades Unions’ legislative conference in D.C.