News | Austin Community College American Federation of Teachers Local 6249

Notes from the President of ACCAFT - Labor Endorsements for Primary

Fellow ACC/AFT Brothers and Sisters,

I wanted to let you know about the candidates that our Austin Central Labor Council and the Texas AFL-CIO have endorsed for the upcoming Democratic Primary on March 5. Early voting is underway now until Friday, March 1. Polling locations are available on your County Clerk's webpage.

ACC BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVES FY 2023-24 BUDGET

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Smears vs. solutions

Randi Weingarten at a Massachusetts high school

Summer is upon us, and parents, children and teachers are winding down from what has been an exhausting and fully operational school year—the first since the devastating pandemic. The long-lasting impact of COVID-19 has affected our students’ and families’ well-being and ignited the politics surrounding public schools. All signs point to the coming school year unfolding with the same sound and fury, and if extremist culture warriors have their way, being even more divisive and stressful.

August 2, 2022 - ACC nearly doubles its spending on compensation in response to rising cost of living

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August 1, 2022 - ACC employees are struggling with the cost of living. The college says it's doing what it can.

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August 1, 2022 - ACC TRUSTEES APPROVE FY23 BUDGET & NEW COMPENSATION PACKAGE

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July 26, 2022- Austin Community College's proposed budget would give all employees a raise. Is it enough?

Author: Megan Menchaca, Austin American-Statesman, Published July 22, 2022

Even with temperatures regularly exceeding 100 degrees in Central Texas, Sandie Smith often opts to go without air conditioning in their apartment because they can’t afford it. Instead, the science lab technician at Austin Community College’s Highland Campus uses a fan to keep cool.

For Smith, there’s absolutely “no wiggle room” in their monthly budget, which has recently become even tighter with rising rent costs, food and gas prices. Even after making additional sacrifices to make ends meet, Smith said they’re not sure

June 21, 2022 - Austin Community College employees call for a 10% raise as living expenses soar

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June 20, 2022 - Austin Community College workers push for raises, $22 minimum wage

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What unions do

In AFT President Randi Weingarten’s latest New York Times column, she describes what it is exactly that unions do. Though unions are the most popular they have been in decades, anti-union sentiment still thrives in red states and across the nation. “Several years ago, The Atlantic ran a story whose headline made even me, a labor leader, scratch my head: ‘Union Membership: Very Sexy,’” Weingarten writes in the column. “The gist was that higher wages, health benefits and job security—all associated with union membership—boost one’s chances of getting married. Belonging to a union doesn’t actually guarantee happily ever after, but it does help working people have a better life in the here and now.” Click through to read the full column.