Since my last President's message in March, more things that are specific to public education and unions have occurred, starting with the official gutting of the Department of Education. There are multiple coalitions including educators, districts, and organizations filing lawsuits on the impact of this decision. Most Americans believe that every student deserves opportunity, resources and support to reach their full potential no matter where they live, the color of their skin, or how much their family earns. Public schools and the Department of Education exist because students, with and without disabilities, in every state and neighborhood have the right to an education that imparts academic lessons, life skills, and a lifelong love of learning. All students benefit from programs run by the DOE, especially lower-income students and families in rural, suburban, and urban communities, students who qualify for federal grants or loans to receive career training or attend colleges as well as loan forgiveness. Students with ADHD, autism, or other disabilities may lose programming, leaving their parents without support. They shouldn’t pay for billionaires’ tax cuts. In our day to day this could lead to larger class sizes, greater burdens and more daily stress with even less support and resources. Over time there can be cuts to programming, supplies and eventually jobs. Some lawsuits have been won and more will come in the advocacy that must be done for public education.
Attacks have not just been on Education funding and institutions, on Thursday March 27th an executive order aimed at ending collective bargaining for government employees whose work include national security aspects. The expansive order applies to workers across many federal agencies, including the departments of State, Defense, Justice and Health and Human Services. It also impacts the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Federal Communications Commission, and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Stripping collective bargaining and union rights from workers across the federal government is the very definition of union busting! It may not be our union, this time but we cannot stay silent when our ability to collective bargaining or wages and working conditions are being threatened. TAKE ACTION when asked upon, so that someone will be able to take action for us! - Cordelia
