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Public Services
Attendees at the Public Employees Jim McGarvey Breakfast at the AFT convention heard from labor journalist and scholar Steven Greenhouse. It’s essential that public employees are involved in the design and implementation of AI and related technologies in their workplaces—and that they share in the benefits these technologies bring.
Following over a year of research, discussion and exploration into the crisis of an understaffed public sector, the AFT Public Employees Short Staffing Task Force is proud to release its recommendations in a new report titled “Making Democracy Work: Real Solutions for Recruiting and Retaining Public Employees.”
Their gaze on the horizon, AFT public employees brainstormed solutions at their professional issues conference, tackling the most serious issues facing workers in the public sector, from staffing shortages to artificial intelligence to retirement security. They met in Baltimore Nov. 16-18, using the theme “Focus on the Future: Rebuilding Our Communities with a Strong Public Service.”
In focus
The AFT advocates for workers and their unions gaining a seat at the table to maximize the benefits and reduce the harmful effects of AI.
The AFT works with the entire labor movement together in the AFL-CIO to support trade policies that enhance labor rights and worker voice on the job.
Criminal justice and public safety professionals in the AFT support our union’s agenda to work toward justice for all and civil and human rights.
Our union collaborates with many other experts and allies to advocate for public works projects that rebuild resilient, modern and safe infrastructure systems.
The AFT is committed to supporting our affiliates as they advocate against reckless revenue cuts, lobby to prevent offshoring of tax revenues and work to eliminate tax haven states and countries where corporations shelter income from taxation.
The AFT supports defined-benefit pension plans that provide a stable and secure retirement for all government employees and opposes turning over members’ retirement to hedge funds and private equity.