That’s because after every victory there comes the hard work of turning opportunity into results. In this case, it’s a chance to put in place commonsense public policies that will improve the lives of AFT members and other working people.

Many issues are important to members of our union, and I won’t attempt to cover all of them here. But I do want to give you a sense of some of our immediate legislative priorities for 2007.

The new leadership of the 110th Congress has set an ambitious initial agenda that includes raising the minimum wage, cutting student-loan interest rates and giving Medicare the authority to negotiate for lower drug prices. The AFT is actively supporting these items.

Another top issue we will tackle together is getting your school or workplace the necessary resources so you can do the best job possible. We face a difficult budget environment, but we will be pressing Congress and state legislatures for long-overdue investments in education, healthcare and other vital public services.

Additional priorities include:

Fixing No Child Left Behind. NCLB is due to be reauthorized this year, and AFT members’ concerns and experiences continue to guide our recommendations for how to improve it. You can view a preliminary set of recommendations at www.aft.org/nclbrecs.pdf. As reauthorization moves forward, it will be critical for members of Congress to hear directly from you about how the law is helping or hindering your ability to do your job—and what changes are needed.

Repairing crumbling schools. A recent AFT report shines a spotlight on the thousands of schools with deplorable physical conditions that threaten the health, safety, and performance of students and school staff (www.aft.org/topics/building-conditions/
index.htm). These conditions are intolerable. The AFT will be making a major push for federal and state legislation that supports and finances the construction, modernization and ongoing maintenance of schools. Local unions should be part of the process at every step.

Strengthening healthcare and retirement security. Americans deserve secure healthcare and pensions; traditional defined-benefit plans (which most of you have as a result of union negotiations or lobbying) are a model for meeting these needs. But we have to move fast. Employers nationwide are scaling back health benefits and reneging on long-standing pension promises, particularly in the private sector, where corporations are using the bankruptcy process to flat-out steal employees’ hard-earned pensions. We need to vigorously defend our own benefits, but we also must speak out on behalf of our peers in the private sector. This not only is the right thing to do, it’s also smart strategy because we will need to build alliances for the tough fights that lie ahead.

Securing worker rights. All employees should have the right to form a union without harassment or retaliation from their employers. That’s the simple premise behind the federal Employee Free Choice Act, a bill with bipartisan sponsors that is strongly backed by the AFT and other labor groups. Additionally, we will be working to overturn the National Labor Relations Board’s 2006 Kentucky River decision, which threatens the union rights of millions by falsely classifying some nurses and other workers as supervisors. And we will be seeking to secure collective bargaining in the more than 20 states that still—indefensibly—deny this fundamental right to public employees.

What you can do

AFT lobbyists are continuing their outstanding work in this new political environment. But lawmakers want and need to hear from their constituents on the frontlines. You elected them, and you can vote them in or out of office. And you can speak credibly about the impact federal and state legislation has in your schools and communities.

So, just as I encouraged you to get involved in last fall’s elections, I’m again asking you to step up to the plate. Here are a few ways to help:

Become an AFT e-Activist. This e-mail alert network is a powerful but easy way to stay informed and ready to act on breaking legislative developments. Sign up today at www.aft.org/e-activist.

Join an ACE committee. AFT’s highly successful Activists for Congressional Education (ACE) program connects lawmakers with their AFT constituents back home in frank, substantive and regular discussions. ACE committees currently are focused on fixing NCLB, school modernization, enacting the Employee Free Choice Act, and increasing funding for education and other public services. To get involved, contact your state federation’s headquarters, or ask your local union to put you in touch.

Sign up for the Count Me In program. AFT’s Count Me In campaign recognizes that the key to building a stronger union is to enhance member activism at all levels. Learn more about ways you can contribute to organizing, legislative and local union-building efforts at http://www.aft.org/CountMeIn.org

Thanks to you, we have a tremendous opportunity to turn our values and principles into legislation that will help AFT members and working families. After witnessing the unwavering energy and focus that you brought to the fall elections, I have no doubt that, together, we are up to the task.