AFT-Action Portal

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The AFT's Back-to-School Tour '09 is under way with events in St. Louis kicking off the eight-city tour. The opening event was a lively dinner/rally Wednesday night, and the tour continues today with visits to three schools and a press conference that includes U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

From St. Louis, the tour moves on to Houston (Aug. 28); Baltimore (Aug. 31); Portland, Ore. (Sept. 3); San Francisco (Sept. 4); Kenmore, N.Y. (Sept. 8); Boston (Sept. 9) and Philadelphia (Sept. 10).

Stories, photos and video from each stop are available on
a special section of the AFT Web site.

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for AFT e-Activist Network.

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AFT Action Archives   Working Families AFTNational
AFT has put up a page on its Higher Ed website devoted to the national Faculty and College Excellence
(FACE) campaign, whose goal is to achieve equity in salary, benefits, and working conditions between
full-time and part-time faculty, as well as improving the ratio between FT and PT.

You can read about what's going on in other states, as well as here in Oregon. The page is at http://face.aft.org/

Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 28, AFT and our allies, including HCAN (Healthcare for American Now), are having another national call-in day.

The number to call is 877/264-4226. Press 1 to contact the U.S House of Representatives. When prompted, enter your 10-digit telephone number to be connected directly to your representative. Urge your member of Congress to support healthcare reform now.

Make no mistake: People who prefer the status quo and oppose healthcare reform have contacted Congress, as well. We cannot let those who support killing healthcare reform to succeed. There is too much at stake.

Take a moment and urge Congress to do the right thing and pass healthcare reform NOW. Thank you again.

Tell-a-Friend
Forward this message to your friends and colleagues so they can call Congress on July 28.

The AFT's 80th convention is over, but you can get complete coverage of the recently concluded meeting in Chicago on the AFT Web site. The special convention section includes "e-book" versions of the daily summaries of the proceedings, prepared by the AFT's editorial department, as well as more than a dozen videos of convention highlights and other videos specially made for the convention.

Newly elected AFT president Randi Weingarten recaps some of the themes of her first convention speech in a July 16 posting on the "Huffington Post" blog. AFT e-activists are encouraged to read her post and add their own comments.

AFT e-Activist Network
Become part of a powerful network that connects you to the union's political and legislative program. http://www.aft.org/e-activist/

AFT Healthcare General News
For members and non-members alike, this e-mail newsletter provides news, information, legislative and political updates, and other information about the healthcare industry, healthcare reform, organizing, and nursing and other healthcare professions about once or twice a week. http://www.unionvoice.org/aft_healthcare/join.html)

AFT Healthcare School Nurse List
For members and non-members alike, this e-mail newsletter provides news, information, legislative and political updates, and other information about the school nursing and school-based healthcare about fives times a week.
(mailto:subscribe-school-nurses@aftlists.aft.org?subject=Subscribe)

AFT Higher Education News from the National
An electronic newsletter delivered to your e-mail that keeps you updated about what AFT Higher Education and our affiliates are working on and achieving. The newsletter also includes information about upcoming meetings. http://www.aft.org/higher_ed/forms/index.htm

AFT Human Rights News
Quarterly publication to inform members on current issues pertaining to civil rights, prepared by the AFT human rights and community relations department. http://www.unionvoice.org/civilrights/join.tcl

AFT PLUS F.Y.I. Blast
The AFT PLUS F.Y.l. Blast is sent twice a month to notify members and leaders of special AFT PLUS offers and updates on benefit programs. Join this list to always know the current national benefit program offerings.
http://www.aft.org/aftplus/signup)

AFT PSRP e-news
Biweekly newsletter from the paraprofessional and school related personnel division with reports on activities of our affiliates as well as useful information and tips for representing members and supporting their work in schools and colleges.
http://www.unionvoice.org/aftpsrpdivision/join.tcl

AFT Retiree e-news
A hard-hitting digest of the latest news about retirement and retirees from health and pensions to benefits and travel (20 issues a year).
http://www.unionvoice.org/aft_retirement/join.tcl

Eben L. Pullman
Field Representative AFT-Oregon 7035 SW Hampton St. Tigard, OR 97223

503-595-3880 x18 fax: 503-595-3887 www.aft-oregon.org

Legislative Links Track bills and contact legislators through these helpful legislative links.

Struggling schools
The Spring 2007 issue features real support for really struggling schools.

Visit the NCLBlog.
Join the discussion or just check out the news and commentary on education, labor and Congress's plans to revise NCLB.

"Initiative Integrity" upheld
by Court of Appeals
(From the AFL-CIO)

Measure 26, also known as the Initiative Integrity Act, was upheld on February 22 by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Voters approved Measure 26 in 2002 by a 3-1 margin after enduring a signature-gathering season rife with fraud. Two petitioners were even videotaped forging signatures in Portlands Lloyd Center Mall. AFT-Oregon has been a player in the efforts to bring integrity to the initiative process.

Since Measure 26s passage, some signature gathering companies have yet to comply. B & P Campaign Management, which is gathering signatures for four initiatives, is under investigation for violating Measure 26. The initiatives would cut state taxes by substituting a federal tax exemption for the state tax credit; prohibit insurance companies from using a consumer's credit score when setting insurance premium rates; require that judges of the Oregon Supreme Court and Court of Appeals be elected by district rather than statewide; and prohibit state and local governments from using their power of eminent domain to seize private property and turn it over to a developer.

AFT-Oregon has worked with the Oregon AFL-CIO, the Oregon Education Association and other labor and community groups in the fight for initative integrity. Signature fraud was one of the issues brought to light in AFT-Oregon and OEA's lawsuit, and the subsequent judgement against Bill Sizemore and Oregon Taxpayers United.