| AFT-Wisconsin

President Kohlhaas on the Passing of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, August 5, 2021

Madison, WI – AFT-Wisconsin President Kim Kohlhaas responded to the passing of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka as follows:

“Today we lost a great labor leader who inspired working-class Americans everywhere. We send condolences to Richard Trumka's family and friends, and to our nation-wide union family. He led with his heart and beliefs. From his days as a coal miner to his time as President of the AFL-CIO, Trumka's leadership strengthened the national and international workers’ justice movement immeasurably. We mourn this loss, but take pride in

AFT-Wisconsin President Kim Kohlhaas on the Special Session on Public Education

For Immediate Release:
Monday, July 26, 2021

Madison, WI – Today Governor Evers announced a special session of the state legislature to discuss support for public education. AFT-Wisconsin President Kim Kohlhaas responded as follows:

“For years now, in opinion polls, listening sessions, referendums, and elections, Wisconsin voters have called for our students to get the educational support they need to thrive in their lives and careers. The Republican budget passed earlier this month neither invested in students nor created a vision for the state’s future.

We applaud Governor Evers’ principled and

AFT-Wisconsin President Kim Kohlhaas on the Appointment of AFT-W VP for Higher Education Jon Shelton to the UW System Presidential Search Committee

For Immediate Release:

Friday, July 9, 2021

Madison, WI - Today the UW System announced that Board of Regents President Edmund Manydeeds III has selected AFT-Wisconsin VP of Higher Education Jon Shelton as a member of the UW System Presidential Search Committee. Shelton is an Associate Professor of Democracy and Justice Studies at UW-Green Bay, and also serves as his campus’s Faculty Representative to the UW System. AFT-Wisconsin President Kim Kohlhaas responded as follows:

“The appointment of Jon Shelton to the search committee is a testament not only to Jon's hard work at UW-Green Bay, but

AFT-W President Kim Kohlhaas on Assembly and Senate Budget

For Immediate Release:

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Madison, WI – Today the State Senate voted to pass a budget bill, a day after the Assembly passed its budget. AFT-Wisconsin President Kim Kohlhaas responded to the legislature’s work as follows:

"The people were ignored. Our public schools are at a crisis point: districts regularly increase class sizes, and some are even having conversations about shutting down schools altogether. This budget offers no significant aid for schools. Our technical colleges and the UW System have suffered from years of cuts. This budget puts the burden on students

AFT and 400+ other organizations urge President Biden and Vice President Harris to cancel federal student debt

Over 415 organizations, including the American Federation of Teachers, have signed a letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris, calling on them to use executive authority to cancel federal student debt. The full text of the letter can be found below. A PDF of the letter (as sent on April 13) can be found here. You can find the press release here.

AFT-Wisconsin locals and other nonprofit organizations are also encouraged to sign in support! Click here to sign.

April 13, 2021

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

President of the United States

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Was

AFT-Wisconsin Responds to the Election of Edmund Manydeeds as President of the UW System Board of Regents

For Immediate Release:

Thursday, June 3, 2021

Today the UW System Board of Regents elected Evers’ regent appointee, Edmund Manydeeds to be the next Board of Regents President.

"Elections matter. The work we did in 2018 put an advocate of public higher education in the Governor’s office,” said AFT-Wisconsin Vice President for Higher Education, Jon Shelton, a professor of Democracy and Justice Studies at UW-Green Bay. “Today, we are thrilled that one of Gov. Evers’ first regent appointments—and a true supporter of shared governance and the Wisconsin Idea—has been elected Board of Regents

AFT-W to State Legislature: Support Transgender Students

President Kim Kohlhaas has sent letters to the state legislative committees considering legislation that would prevent transgender students from fully participating in sports aligned with their identity: "These bills won’t make sports safer or fairer for any student—they would only stigmatize and exclude a group of students who already face high levels of discrimination... Wisconsin’s teachers, faculty, and staff oppose any bill that hurts transgender youth from passing out of the legislature." You can read the (identical) letters in full here:

AFT-Wisconsin President Kim Kohlhaas on Verdict of Derek Chauvin Trial

For Immediate Release:

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Madison, WI – AFT-Wisconsin President Kim Kohlhaas has responded to the verdict as

follows:

“The death of George Floyd at the hands of Derek Chauvin was an outrage. I am

overwhelmed by the guilty verdicts. Even though a police officer was held accountable

this time, we aren’t done. A single trial does not create systemic change.

George Floyd’s death was sad and maddening in so many ways. We cannot have the same

conversation next week about the next victim. The issue is a system that targets people

like George Floyd, Daunte Wright, Jacob Blake, Breonna

President Kim Kohlhaas: "Jill Underly will give all students a chance to succeed"

AFT-Wisconsin President Kim Kohlhaas recently published this opinion piece in the Cap Times. Read and share!

AFT-Wisconsin Inspired by Governor Evers Budget Proposal

For Immediate Release:

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Madison, WI – Governor Evers has proposed a state budget that champions public education at every level, from Wisconsin’s PK-12 schools to technical colleges and the UW System.

“This budget inspires,” said AFT-Wisconsin President Kim Kohlhaas. “Governor Evers has spent the past several months and even years actively listening to what our communities want, in every district rural and urban, and it shows here. With true collective bargaining rights for front-line workers, and resources for students and educators from pre-kindergarten through

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