Get ready for Election 2006!

Laws made by elected officials at the local, state and national level can have a profound impact on AFT members and the institutions they work in. Whether the issue is healthcare reform, No Child Left Behind, workers’ rights or access to higher education, policymakers play no small role in shaping our country’s educational, economic and social landscape.

In November, voters across the country will be going to the polls to elect members of Congress, governors and state legislators, and local officials.

Beginning this fall, the AFT will be providing members with background on many of these candidates, especially their positions on policies affecting you as an educator and union member. We hope this information will help you make an informed decision about which candidates share your goals and support what you and your family believe is the right agenda for the country’s future.

In addition to our work here at the national level, many AFT state and local affiliates will be supporting candidates for office and urging members like you to join in campaigning for those candidates. We hope you take them up on that offer.

Some AFT members have already been politically active in recent months. As part of the AFT’s Activists for Congressional Education (ACE) program, members have met with their congressional representatives in their home states. They’ve had a chance to discuss key legislative issues with their representatives, often building lasting relationships. Lawmakers need to know that you and your union are paying attention to what’s happening on Capitol Hill. This important work creates a foundation for continued communication with those who influence the issues you care about.