News from AFT Retirees Archive

Rising healthcare costs are affecting families and communities—and many are delaying or forgoing care as a result. Join AFT President Randi Weingarten, public health expert Dr. Vin Gupta and Covered California’s chief medical officer, Dr. Monica Soni, on April 30 at 7 p.m. EDT for a timely Vital Lessons webinar on medical debt and healthcare affordability. Hear key findings from the AFT’s latest survey and explore practical resources and solutions you can use to navigate costs and support your community. Register now.  

 

May Day is often thought of as a global Labor Day—a day rooted in worker solidarity and collective civil action. It has its foundations in the fight for the eight-hour workday, when workers—many of them immigrants—came together to demand fair treatment and dignity on the job. It’s about working people standing together to demand a voice in the decisions that shape their lives. That’s why this May Day isn’t just about showing up, it’s about standing together and speaking out in the places where decisions are made. It’s a chance to connect worker power to civic participation and make clear that our voices matter. Our May Day toolkit includes resources and materials to encourage members to take action.  

 

Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month, a time to recognize older Americans' contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm our commitment to serving older adults. The 2026 theme, Champion Your Health, focuses on prevention, wellness and personal responsibility as cornerstones of healthy aging. It encourages taking an active role in managing your own health, advocating for yourself, accessing preventive care and making informed decisions that support independence. Join us in highlighting the importance of evidence-based approaches, self-management and community partnerships that empower individuals to lead their healthiest lives.

 

Just a week after Hungary’s landmark election, democracy advocates, scholars and labor leaders gathered for the third webinar in the Defending Democracy series from the AFT and the Albert Shanker Institute to examine how Hungarian voters were able to end Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16-year hold on power—and what it could mean for people around the world, including the United States.  

 

Mother Jones is often cited on Workers’ Memorial Day, April 28, for her famous admonition: “Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.” Born in Ireland around 1830, Mary Harris “Mother” Jones championed workers during America’s industrial surge in the late 1800s, becoming an icon in the struggle to organize trade unions. Called the “Miners’ Angel” for her fierce backing of the United Mine Workers, she railed against child labor and worker exploitation. For her efforts, she was jailed. Among her words of wisdom: “Sit down and read. Educate yourself for the coming conflicts” and “My friends, it is solidarity of labor we want.”  

 

In her latest column, AFT President Randi Weingarten reflects on the changing role of technology in education, and specifically, on how technology is changing the way students learn and interact with each other. Weingarten discusses the introduction of artificial intelligence into classrooms, and stresses the importance of having guardrails and federal regulations on the new technology to ensure safety for students, educators and communities. She says we cannot allow AI to replace the most important skill we teach kids: critical thinking.