NHP news | April 2026

AFT nurses and healthcare professionals from across the country gathered in Detroit April 13-15. Members came carrying the weight of understaffing, growing patient demand and a healthcare system under attack, but they left with something stronger: a shared sense of purpose and concrete plans to act. The “Together We Care” 2026 professional issues conference wasn’t about passive listening. It was a rehearsal for what comes next.  

 

 

In the Spring 2026 issue of AFT Health Care, learn how we’re standing up for the care our communities need. AFT members describe how Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids are affecting patient care and how they’re fighting back. Researchers explore the devastating effects of the second Trump presidency on our nation’s health. A public health leader shares why he resigned from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And AFT President Randi Weingarten and American Association of University Professors President Todd Wolfson explain why protecting public colleges and universities from President Donald Trump’s attacks is essential for medical advancements, economic opportunity and our democracy.

 

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.”

 

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 and share this session with members.

 

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.