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American Teacher
November 2002-

AFT honors affiliates for political activism

How do you spell relief for political heartburn? The AFT's prescription is spelled C-O-P-E.

Funded through voluntary member contributions, COPE (Committee on Political Education) is a crucial resource in the AFT's ongoing efforts to fight for the interests of our members. This includes supporting candidates for elective office and working in state capitals to press for legislation that will improve the lives of members--both on and off the job.

Paula Caiozzo, a long-time member of the Cranston (R.I.) Teachers Alliance, has been contributing to COPE since "they started asking us to contribute to political action."

"If the right people are elected, especially on a local basis, they will sit down and listen to [our] views on education and our contract," says Caiozzo. She also doesn't contribute to a candidate unless that candidate is endorsed by the union.

Caiozzo was among the AFT activists who attended a special reception at the AFT convention in Las Vegas this summer as the national union honored more than 800 affiliates for their participation in the COPE program. Also, during a special presentation at the convention, six state and local affiliates were honored for their outstanding political education and political action efforts. The six affiliates, one from each constituency group represented by the AFT, including retirees, received awards for "building a more vibrant political voice." They are:

The Oklahoma City Federation of Teachers (preK-12) for mobilizing hundreds of its members, including getting them registered to vote, to oppose a right-to-work ballot referendum in September 2001. Thanks to the effort, more than 80 percent of AFT members in Oklahoma are now registered to vote.

The Oklahoma City Federation of Classified Employees (PSRP) for increasing voter registration during its battle against the right-to-work ballot initiative, as well as for its successful community-based campaign against a proposed plan to privatize food services.

The Washington Federation of Teachers for its instrumental role in winning a groundbreaking collective bargaining bill in the state Legislature that extends bargaining rights to more than 8,000 full-time and part-time faculty who teach in the state's four-year colleges and universities.

The Health Professionals and Allied Employees (N.J.) for spearheading passage of bipartisan legislation in 2001 that banned the use of mandatory overtime for New Jersey healthcare workers.

The North Dakota Public Employees Association for its active member lobbying program and political action program. Twenty-five percent of NDPEA's membership contribute to COPE, and member involvement in legislative activities helped deliver an improved pension plan and whistleblower protection for state workers.

The retiree chapter of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers for its advocacy efforts on pensions and cost-of-living increases, as well as its member participation in political campaigns, rallies for public schools and activities opposing school privatization in the city.

American Federation of Teachers, AFL•CIO - 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW - Washington, DC 20001