AFT Public Employees Professional Issues Conference

Workplace Safety: Unsafe Worksites in Baltimore

Room: Calloway AB

Presenters: Antoinette Ryan Johnson, president, City Union of Baltimore; Audra Lucas, AFT staff

Moderator: Bill Garrity, President, University Health Professionals

In 2019, City Union of Baltimore member Trina Cunningham went to work and never returned home. Despite this tragic and preventable loss, the city of Baltimore continues to underinvest in safe work sites for its workers. CUB members, in conjunction with the AFT and AFT-Maryland, have been working to document and correct unsafe work sites. From helping members to earn OSHA-10 certifications to bargaining and publicity campaigns, learn about how CUB and the AFT are working to ensure safety for all workers.

Defined Benefit Pension Plans: A Better Bang for the Buck

Room: Ruth

Presenters: Jeff Kasper, business manager, Alaska Public Employees Association; Gary Feist, vice president, North Dakota Public Employees; Dan Doonan, executive director, National Institute on Retirement Security; Kendal Killian, executive director, National Public Pension Coalition

Moderator: Rachel Peterson, Rhode Island Department of Education

Defined-benefit pensions have long been a cornerstone of benefits packages offered to recruit and retain top talent in the public sector. In recent decades, DB pensions have been chronically underfunded, leading to unfunded liabilities that must be paid out, even during times of deep austerity. Some conservative governments have sought to replace DB pensions with other retirement plans, like defined-contribution pensions and 401(k) plans. Despite claims that DC plans and 401(k) plans save money, evidence indicates that DB pension plans are more cost effective and have positive ripple effects throughout the economy. Learn from researchers at the National Institute on Retirement Security and public employees in states that are exploring different public sector retirement plans.

Is AI going to take my job? What’s going on with AI and why should public employees care?

Room: Latrobe

Presenters: Amy Hickey, AFT staff; Jill Cohenour, president, Federation of Public Health and Human Services, Montana

Moderator: Jerry Smith, president, Maryland Professional Employees Council

In November 2022, ChatGPT took the world by storm. AI has been in development for decades, but in recent years, generative AI has advanced at an alarming rate. Lawmakers, employers and other decision-makers struggle to keep pace with ever evolving concerns around the impacts of new technology that even the developers don’t fully understand. This workshop will seek to explain why public employees should pay attention to ongoing AI developments and how they may impact public services.

New Isn’t Always Better: The Impacts of Unregulated Artificial Intelligence on Public Services and How to Regulate New Technology

Room: Johnson A

Presenters: Randi DiAntonio, vice president, New York State Public Employees Federation; Wayne Spence, president, New York State Public Employees Federation

Moderator: Skip Miller, president, Colorado WINS

The concept of using technology to predict and prevent crime has been in the public consciousness for decades, famously depicted in Philip K. Dick’s dystopian novella Minority Report. In a true story of life imitating art, New York state has adopted the COMPAS program to utilize AI to predict recidivism in adult parolees. This workshop explores how over-reliance on new technology can have harmful effects on our democracy and proposes solutions for regulating digital technology. Representatives from the New York State Public Employees Federation will discuss their bargaining and legislative approaches to overreaching digital technology.

Recognizing, Controlling and Responding to Union Attacks

Room: Johnson B

Presenters: Dan Carpenter, director of organizing, New York State Public Employees Federation; Donald Cohen, executive director, In the Public Interest

Moderator: Tara Shiman, Worthington Library

For as long as workers have been fighting for their rights, bosses have been pushing back by employing union-busting firms to spread disinformation and fear to stymie union advances. In the public sector, anti-union campaigns tend to be even more insidious, as private interests actively work to dismantle our critical public services in a bid for privatization and profit. Learn more about recognizing boss tactics and how to combat anti-union campaigns.

Mini-Blitz Basics: How to Organize and Activate Your Local

Room: Peale

Presenters: Deneen Taylor, field service director, Illinois Federation of Teachers and Jakob Miles, organizer, Montana Federation of Public Employees

Moderator: Sarah LaFrenz, president, Kansas Organization of State Employees

Tired of seeing the same old faces at every union meeting? Not sure how to engage new hires in a post-Janus landscape? You might need to re-energize your organizing efforts. Learn from AFT local staff about mini-blitzes they have designed and executed to effectively organize their membership. This workshop will cover lessons learned, what it takes to design and execute a blitz and how to hold onto organizing gains after all the organizers go home.

When Union Rights are Under Attack

Room: Calloway AB

Presenters: Dan Carpenter, director of organizing, New York State Public Employees Federation; Donald Cohen, executive director, In the Public Interest

Moderator: Rachel Peterson, Rhode Island Department of Education Union

For as long as workers have been fighting for their rights, bosses have been pushing back by employing union-busting firms to spread disinformation and fear to stymie union advances. In the public sector, anti-union campaigns tend to be even more insidious, as private interests actively work to dismantle our critical public services in a bid for privatization and profit. Learn more about recognizing boss tactics and how to combat anti-union campaigns.

Defined benefit pension plans: A Better Bang for the Buck

Room: Ruth

Presenters: Jeff Kasper, business manager, Alaska Public Employees Association; Gary Feist, vice president, North Dakota Public Employees; Dan Doonan, executive director, National Institute on Retirement Security; Kendal Killian, executive director, National Public Pension Coalition

Moderator: Tara Shiman, Worthington Public Library Union

Defined-benefit pensions have long been a cornerstone of benefits packages offered to recruit and retain top talent in the public sector. In recent decades, DB pensions have been chronically underfunded, leading to unfunded liabilities that must be paid out, even during times of deep austerity. Some conservative governments have sought to replace DB pensions with other retirement plans, like defined-contribution pensions and 401(k) plans. Despite claims that DC plans and 401(k) plans save money, evidence indicates that DB pension plans are more cost effective and have positive ripple effects throughout the economy. Learn from researchers at the National Institute on Retirement Security and public employees in states that are exploring different public sector retirement plans.

New Isn’t Always Better: The Impacts of Unregulated Artificial Intelligence on Public Services and How to Regulate New Technology

Room: Latrobe

Presenters: Randi DiAntonio, vice president, New York State Public Employees Federation; Wayne Spence, president, New York State Public Employees Federation

Moderator: Skip Miller, president, Colorado WINS

The concept of using technology to predict and prevent crime has been in the public consciousness for decades, famously depicted in Philip K. Dick’s dystopian novella Minority Report. In a true story of life imitating art, New York state has adopted the COMPAS program to utilize AI to predict recidivism in adult parolees. This workshop explores how over-reliance on new technology can have harmful effects on our democracy and proposes solutions for regulating digital technology. Representatives from the New York State Public Employees Federation will discuss their bargaining and legislative approaches to overreaching digital technology.

Bargaining for the Common Good: Supporting Our Communities

Room: Johnson A

Presenter: Kyle Arnone, AFT Collective Bargaining Center staff, Hilary Glasgow, executive director, Colorado-WINS

Moderator: Sue Parton, president, Federation of Indian Service Employees

Wages, hours and working conditions are the bread and butter of union negotiations. But what about expanding the scope of negotiations to bring community concerns to the forefront? Learn about how unions can mobilize members and leverage power by doing this. We will discuss successful campaigns to bargain for the public good and how this helps to lift all boats.

Student Debt Clinic

Room: Johnson B

Presenter: Chris Goff, associate director, AFT Higher Education

Moderator: Tracey Breeden, Massachusetts Library Staff Association

After three and a half years, payments on federal student loans have resumed, but thanks to the AFT and our partners, borrowers have more tools to access lower monthly payments and loan forgiveness. Join us to learn about how you can take advantage of income-driven repayment plans to manage your monthly payments and set yourself up to receive Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which is available to anyone who works in the public sector!

Mini-Blitz Basics: How to Organize and Activate Your Local

Room: Peale

Presenter: Deneen Taylor, field service director, Illinois Federation of Teachers; Jakob Miles, Montana Federation of Public Employees

Moderator: Matt Emigholz, president Illinois Federation of Public Employees and Antoinette Ryan-Johnson, president, City Union of Baltimore

Tired of seeing the same old faces at every union meeting? Not sure how to engage new hires in a post-Janus landscape? You might need to re-energize your organizing efforts. Learn from AFT local staff about mini-blitzes they have designed and executed to effectively organize their membership. This workshop will cover lessons learned, what it takes to design and execute a blitz and how to hold onto organizing gains after all the organizers go home.

Recruitment and Retention in the Public Sector: Successful Strategies for Building a Strong Workforce

Room: Calloway AB

Presenters: Shawn Brown, vice president, University Health Professionals, Danielle Bridger, regional coordinator, New York State Public Employees Federation, and Elena Temple, AFT Staff government affairs.

Moderator: Matt Emigholz, president, Illinois Federation of Public Employees

Staffing in the public sector has reached a critical level in many localities around the country. From offering signing bonuses to housing support, local governments are throwing a lot of strategies at the wall to see what will work to fill hard-to-fill positions. Members of the AFT Public Employees Short Staffing Task Force will give examples of successful bargaining strategies and collaboration with management that are making a difference in hiring and retention. Join the conversation on how to make public jobs more attractive to potential applicants.

Presenting Task Force Report: Deep Dive into Recommendations

Room: Johnson A

Presenters: Jenn Porcari, director, AFT Public Employees; Michelle Wheat, Montana Federation of Public Employees

Moderator: John DiSette, president, A&R

Employment levels may be rebounding in the private sector, but many of our nation’s most important public services are at risk due to a staffing crisis across the public sector. After a year of research and discussion, the AFT Public Employees Short Staffing Task Force is about to release a report detailing the staffing crisis in government and how this impacts democracy. This workshop will focus on the 10 recommendations made by the task force to improve recruitment and retention. If you are dealing with short staffing in your workplace and union, this workshop will provide an opportunity for networking around solutions!

Professional Skill-Building: Making AI Work for Your Union/Profession

Room: Ruth

Presenters: Rob Weil, AFT Educational Issues staff

Moderator: Ryan Clark, president, New York Lifeguard Corps

By now you’ve heard of Bard and ChatGPT, but what other AI is out on the market right now, and how is it being used? This workshop will explore currently available AI tools and how to utilize them to build your professional skills and strengthen your union. Come share what apps you are using at your work site as we build an arsenal of information to share across the AFT. Learn how to identify AI-generated content and how to use AI as a starting point to strengthen your work products.

Is Artificial Intelligence Going to Take My Job? What’s Going on with AI, and Why Should Public Employees Care?

Room: Latrobe

Presenters: Amy Hickey, AFT Public Employees staff; Jill Cohenour, president, Federation of Public Health and Human Services, Montana

Moderator: Skip Miller, president, Colorado WINS

In November 2022, ChatGPT took the world by storm. AI has been in development for decades, but in recent years, generative AI has advanced at an alarming rate. Lawmakers, employers and other decision-makers struggle to keep pace with ever evolving concerns around the impacts of new technology that even the developers don’t fully understand. This workshop will seek to explain why public employees should pay attention to ongoing AI developments and how they may impact public services.

Mini-Blitz Basics: How to Organize and Activate Your Local

Room: Peale

Presenter: Deneen Taylor, field service director, Illinois Federation of Teachers and Jakob Miles, Montana Federation of Public Employees

Moderator: Bill Garrity, president, University Health Professionals and Sarah LaFrenz, president, Kansas Organization of State Employees

Tired of seeing the same old faces at every union meeting? Not sure how to engage new hires in a post-Janus landscape? You might need to re-energize your organizing efforts. Learn from AFT local staff about mini-blitzes they have designed and executed to effectively organize their membership. This workshop will cover lessons learned, what it takes to design and execute a blitz and how to hold onto organizing gains after all the organizers go home.

Bargaining for the Common Good: Supporting Our Communities

Room: Johnson B

Presenters: Kyle Arnone, AFT Collective Bargaining Center staff, Hilary Glasgow, executive director, Colorado-WINS

Moderator: Jerry Smith, president, Maryland Professional Employees Council

Wages, hours and working conditions are the bread and butter of union negotiations. But what about expanding the scope of negotiations to bring community concerns to the forefront? Learn about how unions can mobilize members and leverage power by doing this. AFT organizing directors and AFT staff will discuss successful campaigns to bargain for the public good and how this helps to lift all boats.