AFT Public Employees

"I have real human conditions that I am faced with every day. People who are dependent on the system; and if the system fails them, they have nothing."

"The research out there now shows that for those of us without Social Security and without a defined benefit, chances are you are going to be on public assistance."

"I am grateful that we had a union. [Reinstatement] wouldn’t have happened otherwise."

"Most of us are working in aging buildings. And because of cost-cutting, we are seeing deferred maintenance: Filters aren’t changed; ductwork isn’t cleaned; and no one checks to see if the fans are working."

"We recognize the problems in providing service to our customers and we want to be heard."

"The research out there now shows that for those of us without Social Security and without a defined benefit, chances are you are going to be on public assistance."