AFT St. Louis, Local 420, Aflcio

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UMWA condemns Republicans blocking silica rule funding - The Labor Tribune Triangle, VA – Mine Workers (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts condemned efforts by House Republicans to block enforcement of the recent silica rule released by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). The provision was passed by the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Hum...

OPINION: The Missouri Legislature’s big education bill sham

Posted on July 1, 2024

261
Why I voted ‘no’ on SB 727

By SENATOR. ANGELA MOSLEY
(D-St. Louis County)

The Missouri Legislature has a Republican supermajority that is not a friend to public education, which I believe is the cornerstone of democracy, lifts people out of poverty, contributes to a better quality of life and improves the economy.

They use their supermajority and every gimmick possible to give the illusion that public education is important to them, while advancing legislation that is detrimental to our public schools. Those gimmicks include things like voting for charter schools and vouchers to attend private schools that no communities in the state have asked for.

As a matter of fact, education experts say these gimmicks undercut resources to the public schools in those communities. These same Republicans do the bidding of millionaire school-choice advocates like the Opportunity Trust to make sure these gimmicks become law.

Under this backdrop, I want to share why I voted no on Senate Bill 727 last session.

MASTERS OF DECEPTION
Many in the Republican majority are masters of deception. For example, they give bills names like so-called “right-to-work” or “Paycheck Protection,” so they sound like they are aimed at benefiting workers. In reality, what they are really about is weakening or even destroying Labor unions to the detriment of the working class.

Another deceptive practice that they use is to create giant omnibus bills, like SB 727, which are packed with a few things that most reasonable people agree upon but also include hidden gifts for their special-interest supporters — like the millionaire-funded school-choice advocates.

They know full well that the things reasonable people agree upon as being beneficial to public education will not be funded in the new state budget. Yet those hidden special-interest gifts will be fully implemented under the new bill.

SB 727 calls for much-needed increased minimum salaries for our teachers in mostly rural areas of the state, increased funding for pre-K and other items beneficial to public schools and supported by most reasonable people.

However, that bill also included a provision for expanding charter schools and vouchers that give away tax dollars to private schools in order to satisfy the special-interest millionaire school-choice crowd.

IN THE BILL, BUT NOT IN THE BUDGET
According to the Missouri Independent, state education officials are preparing for “the mother of all supplemental budgets” later this year. That’s because the state budget adopted in the recently ended legislative session doesn’t include enough money to fund the increase in teacher pay or pre-K that was promised with SB 727. I believe its inclusion in the bill was just a gimmick to give cover to some legislators who voted for it — as well as to fool the public into thinking the bill was of some benefit to the public schools.

For the provisions for increased teacher’s salaries and increased funding for pre-K to become a reality, the money must be agreed to during a supplemental budget process, which is unlikely to occur, since the Republican-controlled Legislature failed to include such funding in the state budget even as they passed SB 727. I pray that those needs will be funded, but that is highly unlikely in an environment of shrinking revenue and a Republican majority that has pledged to reduce corporate taxes.

If that funding is not forthcoming, there will be no increase in teachers’ salaries, nor increased benefits to pre-K education. This is reason why every major public education organization in Missouri opposed the bill, as did all Senate Democrats and all but three House Democrats.

Of course, if there is no funding for teacher salaries and for improvements in pre-K education, guess what would still happen? Expanded charter schools and private school vouchers, which will drain critically needed funds from our public schools.

NOT WHAT VOTERS WANT
Our Republican friends on the other side of the aisle and the three Democratic House members who passed SB727 should note that polls show Missouri’s electorate is far more interested in supporting existing public schools than expanding charter schools.

Let us also remember that education experts agree that both charter schools and vouchers hurt our public schools, and do not improve the quality of education offered to our students.

As a supporter of public schools, I am sure the voters will have the last word.

(Senator Angela Walton Mosley (D-St. Louis County) is the Missouri AFL-CIO- endorsed candidate for the 13th Senatorial District, which encompass part of St. Louis County including Bellefontaine Neighbors, Blackjack and Florissant.)

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On anniversary of Equal Pay Act, women and men’s wages still differ - The Labor Tribune June 10 marked the 61st anniversary of the Equal Pay Act (EPA) of 1963, which prohibits employers from paying workers different wages for the same work solely based on s*x. While the passage of the EPA was an important victory in narrowing the gender wage gap, pay inequality still persists. Women ov...

Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, local unions take part in Juneteenth Day of Action, cleaning up MLK Drive - The Labor Tribune St. Louis – The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) St. Louis Chapter hosted its fifth annual Juneteenth Labor for Black Lives rally and cleanup of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive Saturday, June 15, with a rally and a community cleanup. Juneteenth is a federal holiday commemorating the emancipa...

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OPINION: The Missouri Legislature’s big education bill sham - The Labor Tribune

SEIU LOCAL 1 ADJUNCT PROFESSORS AT ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE WIN STRONG NEW CONTRACT

SEIU Local 1 members who teach at St. Louis Community College (STLCC) recently ratified a new contract that includes significant wage increases, greater access to fee-free courses, improved health and safety language, and strengthened job security.

The four-year contract is a huge victory for Local 1 members and also a positive for the students who attend STLCC.

Members unanimously ratified a contract that respects and values essential educators.

Congratulations to all St. Saint Louis Public Schools non-certificated staff and trade employees … your 4% raise starts with the new fiscal year July 1, 2024.
Thank you for being a member of American Federation of Teachers St. Louis, AFLCIO (Local 420).

See you there!

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BUD program graduates 33rd class of pre-apprentices - The Labor Tribune By SHERI GASSAWAY Assistant Editor After serving in the U.S. Air Force for 11 and a half years, Ryan Wendelin was looking for a career that provided structure and stability. He says he found that combination after graduating from the St. Louis Building Union Diversity (BUD) program. “I just signed...

Support Our Nurses
SLUH Nurses Call Rally demanding a fair contract after1-year of Negotiation
Join US in the fight for safe staffing and a contract!
After 1-year of negotiation SLUH Nurses still without a contract.
Management has been unwilling to address SLUH’s inability to retain nursing talent.
The cost of living crisis has made it difficult for nurses to continue working at SLUH after two years of no raises.
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Tuesday, June 18, 5:30 PM

1201 S. Grand Blvd. St. Louis MO 63104 (SLUH) Hospital

Teamsters drivers considering strike at Schnucks over failed contract negotiations - The Labor Tribune Bargaining to resume Monday By SHERI GASSAWAY Assistant Editor Teamsters Local 610, representing 129 drivers at Schnucks, gave the company notice Thursday of a possible strike after four months of failed contract negotiations. Local 610 principal officer Dan Thacker said the drivers’ current contr...

Join the Professional Learning team for a series of virtual workshops in July on topics ranging from working with families and meeting students where they are, to civics and writing. Space is limited, so be sure to secure your spots! https://www.aftpd.org/program/summerpd

AFT Local 420, St. Louis Public Schools parents rally against opening of more charter schools in the city - The Labor Tribune By TIM ROWDEN Editor-in-Chief American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 420, St. Louis Public Schools’ (SLPS) Parent Action Council and Journey for Justice held an informational picket Dec. 4 outside “Delmar Divine,” a mixed-use development that houses Opportunity Trust, the organization beh...

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This Black Friday, shop new and used cars online with the Union Plus Auto Buying Program to find your next car. Plus, access union-member perks, like a $100 rebate on new union-made cars and up to $2,000 in post-sale benefits when you report your purchase. See site for details. Shop vehicles: https://unionplus.click/uev

We are so happy to announce that the Jean Kuczka Foundation's net proceeds from our 1st Annual Trivia Night is an astonishing $24,752.40!!! Thank you to all those who joined us, our sponsors, and all those who generously donated to make this possible. These funds will go a long way in the fight against T1D, and towards a future scholarship program in Jean's honor. We can't thank you enough for showing up and being a part of this event!! 💙