AFT holds convention in Nation’s Capital  in July

The AFT biennial convention, held July 13-17 at the convention center in Washington, D.C., and attended by more than 3,900 delegates and guests, launched a new era of AFT leadership.

Delegates elected Edward J. McElroy president.

McElroy, the national union’s former secretary- treasurer, is joined on the leadership team by secretary-treasurer Nat LaCour, who had served as executive vice president, and Antonia Cortese, an AFT vice president elected as executive vice president. Sandra Feldman did not seek reelection due to health reasons.

Ten new vice presidents also were elected to the union’s executive council.

They are: Kathy Chavez, president of the Albuquerque (N.M.) Educational Assistants Association; David Hecker, president of the Michigan Federation of Teachers and School Related Personnel; Richard Iannuzzi, president of the Central Islip (N.Y.) Teachers Association and a second vice president of the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT); Steven Frey, president of the Yonkers (N.Y.) Federation of Teachers; Louis Malfaro, president of Education Austin (Texas); Maria Neira, an executive board member of the United Federation of Teachers (N.Y.); Patrick Santeramo, president of the Broward Teachers Union (Fla.); Sandra Schroeder, president of AFT Washington; Judy Schaubach, president of Education Minnesota; and Ivan Tiger, secretary-treasurer of NYSUT and a UFT executive board member.

President McElroy Addresses the Delegates

The new AFT president said that the first order of business is to rally the full force of the membership behind electing John Kerry.

“We face real and serious challenges,” McElroy said. “The lagging economy—caused at least in part by budget-busting tax cuts for the wealthy—has squeezed virtually every workplace where we represent members. And the misguided leadership from the White House and the majority in Congress threatens the values that we hold so dear.

“Paraprofessionals and other school employees know firsthand that funding cuts for schools often mean job cuts for school support staff. Their work is crucial to our children’s well-being, yet too often school support staff pay the price for shortsighted local, state and federal policies.

“Public employees are painfully aware of the devastating impact the economy and the president’s budget priorities are having on public services. It’s not bloat or unnecessary programs that are being cut. It is vital services that real people depend upon that are being slashed.

“Our higher education members know that funding for colleges has been severely limited; that full-time, tenured jobs are harder to come by; and that many institutions, which claim they value academic freedom, are determined to trample on their employees’ freedom to join a union.

“Healthcare workers have to contend with unsafe staffing levels and mandatory overtime. Many are leaving the profession, and those who stay are in a constant battle with burnout.

“And we are all affected by the skyrocketing healthcare costs, the pressure to freeze salaries, the erosion of the middle class, and assaults on labor unions.”

Under the Bush administration, McElroy said that members have feared for job security, retirement security—middle-class security—“after a lifetime of hard work.”

“Public employees may feel they have survived the worst of the cuts and are still standing,” McElroy said. “And compared to many other working Americans, our union contracts have given us benefits and health insurance that look pretty good. But if we don’t fight for other people to have health insurance, secure retirement benefits, and all that is necessary for a decent standard of living, you can be sure we’ll lose these benefits ourselves. And our nation will be poorer for it.”

McElroy Says Strong Trade Unions Important

McElroy also pledged that the AFT would honor its broad mission to build the house of labor by coordinating efforts with other unions on organizing, political action, health and safety and public policy.

“We should care about the strength of America’s trade union movement, which is the leading and sometimes the only voice on behalf of working families and the less fortunate ... So for ourselves, and our families, and all working Americans, we must fight to make fair wages and benefits the standard.”