AFT-NH | AFT Stateweb

Want In-School Learning to Last? Wear Masks and Get Vaccinated by AFT-NH President Deb Howes

There was near-universal consensus that virtual learning or a hybrid of in-school and remote learning was chaotic and suboptimal, at best. Some kids had trouble accessing classes online, many others had trouble concentrating on lessons for hours on the computer, while other students simply gave up and basically lost a year of learning. We really don’t want to go back to those bad old days.

AFT-NH President Deb Howes' Statement on Approval of Rules for School Voucher Program

Concord, NH --- AFT-NH President Deb Howes Released the Following Statement on Approval of Rules for School Voucher Program

"Today's rules committee meeting in Concord raised more questions than it answered, but disappointingly the Joint Legislative Committee let the temporary rules on school vouchers move forward despite questions about conflicts with existing laws on student safety, and data privacy as well as the inadequate examination of the fiscal impact of the program. Frank Edelblut and the Republican-led legislature continue to turn a blind eye to the real issues this program raises

AFT-NH President Deb Howes' Statement on the Passing of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka

CONCORD, NH—Statement by AFT-New Hampshire President Deb Howes on the passing of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.

AFT-NH is saddened to hear of the loss today of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, a stalwart fighter for the rights of working people everywhere. Our condolences go out to his family, as well as to the members of the organization he led. He was a strong believer that solidarity amongst working people of all kinds could make changes for the better in our country. He will be missed.

AFT-NH Legislative Bulletin, 2021-21

Radical Budget Full of Attacks on Education Set to Become Law

Yesterday was the final day of session and House and Senate Republicans passed one the most radical anti-education budgets that New Hampshire has ever seen. Make no mistake this is a continuation of the work of Frank Edelblut to dismantle the education system as we know it.

The budget as passed by the House and Senate allocated less money than the last budget for education funding, it furthered New Hampshire’s already dangerous educational divide by giving more money back to property-rich communities while leaving communities that struggle further and it allocates millions of dollars of public school funds to private schools without oversight or accountability. Not to be outdone the budget also attempts to silence your voices in the classroom on important and historically undeniable presence of racism and sexism.

CONCORD, N.H.—Statement by AFT-New Hampshire President Deb Howes on passage of the state budget, which drastically reduces funding for public education:

“This budget sends a caustic message to Granite Staters that public education and our children’s futures don’t matter. The budget not only cuts hundreds of millions of dollars of public education funding but, to add salt to the wound, diverts millions of taxpayer dollars to mostly unaccountable private schools through vouchers. Students, schools, communities and property taxpayers, who will have to make up the difference to adequately fund

AFT-NH Legislative Bulletin, 2021-20

Bow, NH ~ June 4, 2021

There is no sugar coating this session. It has been hard. We have seen attempts to dismantle public education. We have had to fend off numerous attacks on labor and attacks on many of the issues that we care about. This is why it is important to take a moment and celebrate wins when you have them. On Thursday, the House voted against SB61, the so-called Right to Work bill. Not only did the house vote against it this year, but they also used a motion that does not allow it to be brought up next year either. We want to thank our brothers and sisters in labor for all their hard work and I want to thank YOU for your hard work. We know that wins don’t always come easy so take this moment and celebrate—you deserve it.

I wish we could offer you more than a moment but sadly Right-to-Work was not the only thing we are facing right now. As we said last week the Senate Finance Committee added vouchers to the budget. This week the full Senate voted to approve that measure. The next step in the budget process is for a committee of conference to be formed. During that committee of conference anything, including vouchers, is negotiable. We need the folks on the committee of conference to know that keeping vouchers in the budget is unacceptable.