Retiree News | February 2026

On Super Bowl Sunday, AFT President Randi Weingarten spent the morning handing out free books to families at P.S. 48 in the Bronx—stories in multiple languages, about heroes, refugees, athletes and pop stars—reflecting the full, vibrant diversity of our communities. That same spirit carried into the halftime show, a celebration of culture, pride and unity that underscored a simple truth: America’s strength is its diversity. At a time when civil rights and inclusive schools are under attack, educators are standing up—for opportunity, for decency and for every child. Because together, we are America.

 

Working people are being crushed and forced out of their professions by corporate greed, soaring expenses and predatory lenders. On Feb. 18, the AFT and Protect Borrowers unveiled new findings from a survey of more than 7,500 AFT union members at a news conference, which included a retired school bus driver, revealing the dire financial situations working families face under President Donald Trump’s failed economic policies. More than a third (36 percent) of respondents say they can’t pay all of their monthly expenditures, and the overwhelming majority (74 percent) say they live paycheck to paycheck. The AFT has launched a massive new campaign to fight back and unveiled tools members can use to fix this crisis.

 

 

Families are facing rising costs while public education, higher ed, healthcare and public services are being cut. Immigration raids are causing terror in schools, on campuses and in hospitals—places that should be safe for learning, caring and belonging. Educators, health professionals and public employees are being asked to do more with less. Opportunity and affordability matter. We must keep up the pressure. Now we need to collectively show the nation who we are and what we’re fighting for. Register for the March 4 nationwide day of action to protect our communities and fight for a better life for all.

 

Every person in America deserves a voice and representation in our democracy. That is why voting is a sacred right in this country, one that advocates have fought fiercely to expand over the life of our republic to Black Americans, women and others who have been left out. Right now, the president and his allies in Congress are working to silence our voices with the SAVE America Act and the Make Elections Great Again Act—together known as SAVE 2.0—which would abolish vote-by-mail systems, impose stricter photo ID requirements and create a centralized voter surveillance system. Tell lawmakers to protect voting rights and reject SAVE 2.0.

 

In times of uncertainty, preparation and trusted information matter. CARE—Community Awareness, Readiness and Education—is a new Share My Lesson community offering AFT tools, examples and reference materials to help educators, union leaders, families and community partners support schools and neighborhoods during immigration enforcement actions or other moments of uncertainty. Explore a growing resource library and connect with others working to build awareness, structure and support in their local communities. Join the CARE community today and help spread the word.

 

Join AFT President Randi Weingarten for a special AFT Book Club conversation with former Vice President Kamala Harris about her memoir, 107 Days. Harris reflects on the period after President Joe Biden stepped aside, her emergence as the Democratic nominee, and the urgency and resolve needed during a defining moment in American democracy. Together, she and Weingarten will discuss leadership under pressure, the role of educators and public employees in sustaining democracy, and what those 107 days reveal about public service and collective action. Invite members to join this important conversation.

 

Events in Minnesota make clear what’s at stake in America, AFT President Randi Weingarten said in announcing our union’s participation in the next nationwide “No Kings” day of action on March 28. In President Donald Trump, we have “a leader who acts more like an unbridled king, as opposed to a president who abides by a legal and moral responsibility to the people of our country.” Americans are fighting back peacefully. “It’s clear that courageous, everyday citizens refuse to be intimidated by our government’s abuse of power,” Weingarten said. “We, as Americans, are at an inflection point. That’s why the AFT will take to the streets again. ... It’s time for the federal government to help people forge a better life, not to create fear. We will stand up and protect our schools, our hospitals and our neighbors.”