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Like the mythological phoenix rising from the ashes, attacks on our public retirement systems are once again making news. At the request of Speaker of the House Jim Tucker (R-Terrytown), the joint Senate and House Committees on Retirement are meeting to discuss “reforming” the retirement incomes of teachers, school employees and other public servants.

National union adds charges to those filed by LFT

A company that recruited hundreds of Filipinos to teach in Louisiana schools violated federal laws when it exploited, intimidated and threatened the teachers, according to a complaint filed Oct. 20 by the AFT.

Official complaints filed over mistreatment of teachers

 (Baton Rouge – October 1, 2009) A company that recruited foreign teachers to work in Louisiana schools is guilty of cheating those teachers out of thousands of dollars and holding them in virtual servitude, according to complaints presented to the Louisiana Federation of Teachers by international educators.

ASCD, a professional education leadership organization, posted a back-to-school survey on teacher opinions about education issues. They found that teachers do not like the idea of linking their salary to standardized test scores.

Please click here to read more about the study.

Study says virtual charters are suspect for both financial and student performance reasons.

(Baton Rouge – September 16, 2009) Considering the problems plaguing virtual or cyber schools in other states, Louisiana should proceed carefully before granting charters to schools that exist mainly on the Internet, Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan said today.

Blue Ribbon consultant:  “Getting a degree is not related to student achievement.”

(Baton Rouge – September 12, 2009) If attracting and keeping the best teachers in our public schools is the goal of the state’s Blue Ribbon Commission for Educational Excellence, some information given to the panel on Thursday would send our state in the wrong direction, according to the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.

The Louisiana AFL-CIO will award three $1,000 scholarships at the 55th Annual AFL-CIO Convention, to be held March 15-16, 2010, at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center Hotel.

The Vietnam Veterans of America will recognize two Louisiana teachers for encouraging their students to develop values that portray Love of Country, Patriotism and appreciation for veterans and those currently serving in the military. Each recipient will receive a plaque and a $500 Award.

(Baton Rouge – August 10, 2009) The state’s largest education organization is asking Governor Bobby Jindal to step in and mediate the ongoing dispute between State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek and some advocates for public education.

The Calcasieu Federation of Teachers was recognized for outstanding growth at a recent meeting of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.

The DeSoto Federation of Teachers was recognized for outstanding growth at a recent meeting of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.

The Jefferson Federation of Teachers was recognized for outstanding growth at a recent meeting of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.

The Plaquemines Federation of Teachers and School Employees was recognized for outstanding growth at a recent meeting of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.

The Rapides Federation of Teachers and School Employees was recognized for outstanding growth at a recent meeting of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers

The Richland Federation of Teachers and School Employees was recognized for outstanding growth at a recent meeting of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.

The St. Landry Federation of Teachers and School Employees was recognized for outstanding growth at a recent meeting of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers

The St. Tammany Federation of Teachers and School Employees was recognized for outstanding growth at a recent meeting of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.

The Tangipahoa Federation of Teachers was recognized for outstanding growth at a recent meeting of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.

The United Teachers of New Orleans was recognized for outstanding growth at a recent meeting of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.

LFT President Steve Monagahan presented retired Jefferson Federation of Teachers President Joe Potts with an award at the LFT's Union Leadership Institute.

LFT President Steve Monaghan recognized attorney Wilson Boveland for his years of service to the United Teachers of New Orleans at the LFT's Union Leadership Institute.

(Baton Rouge – June 3, 2009) By a five vote margin, the House of Representatives on Tuesday turned down a bill that, while touted as school board reform, was widely opposed by educators because it would have eroded a system of checks-and-balances between school boards and school superintendents.

Baton Rouge teachers, and their colleagues around the state, won a big victory in court last week. For years, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board has required teachers and school employees who were injured on the job to submit to a drug test.

Louisiana's elementary and secondary schools are in deplorable condition - an estimate by the American Federation of Teachers pegs the cost of needed repairs and new construction at some $7.3 billion.

Two bills working their way through the legislature this year provide an answer to the problem. SB 90 by Sen. Cheryl Gray Evans (D-New Orleans) and HB 689 by Rep. Karen Carter Peterson (D-New Orleans) would set up and fund the Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Authority.

As the Louisiana Legislature opened its regular session, thousands of teachers, school employees, students and friends of education across Louisiana were in mourning for public schools.

Around the state, "Black Monday" was observed by the wearing of black clothing. In Baton Rouge, a coalition of education organizations kicked off the session with a press conference urging lawmakers to reconsider drastic education cuts proposed by Gov. Bobby Jindal. The Louisiana Federation of Teachers, Louisiana Association of Educators and Louisiana School Boards Association, sponsors of Black Monday, put aside organizational differences and pledged solidarity in their fight to save public education.

Looming budget cuts to public education, from kindergarten through college, threaten to derail Louisiana's educational progress and darken our state's economic future, according to Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan.

Join thousands of educators, students and friends of our schools, colleges and universities in mourning for public education on the first day of the legislative session.

Wear something black to school or work on Monday, April 27!

An editorial in last Friday's Advocate quoted State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek as saying, “Teaching to the test is a good thing, because what students need to learn is on the test.”

That comment raises some eyebrows at the LFT office - we felt that most teachers believe teaching to the test is not the best way to impart knowledge, develop critical thinking skills and imbue in students a lifelong ambition to learn.

Overwhelmingly, teachers opposed the idea of teaching to the test. Find complete results at EdLog, the LFT blog.

(Baton Rouge – March 24, 2009) Longtime labor leader and education advocate Nat LaCour was inducted into the Louisiana AFL-CIO Labor Hall of Fame in a ceremony Monday night at the AFL-CIO’s annual convention at the Baton Rouge Hilton Capitol Center.

 (Baton Rouge – March 11, 2009) The standstill education budget approved by a state board of education committee represents a retreat from the board’s stated goals for our children, Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan said today.

(Baton Rouge – March 10, 2009) “The choice is between a rock and a hard place.” That is how Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan characterized the two public education funding options facing members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Obama: I support repealing the GPO/WEP and will work to do so as president.”

For the past three years, LFT and our members have joined forces with union members from other states to pass the national Social Security Fairness Act. That’s the law that would repeal two unfair pension offsets that cut duly earned benefits of Louisiana school employees and other public servants in more than a dozen states.

(Baton Rouge – March 5, 2009) Proposed changes to Louisiana’s teacher tenure laws are based on a flawed study that wrongly identifies tenure as “complicit” in keeping “ineffective teachers” in the classroom, Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan said today, adding that LFT will fight efforts to water down laws that protect teacher rights.

Jefferson Parish paraprofessional Karen Riggleman, who works at Bunche Academy for High School Preparation, was named the Geraldine Bell Memorial Award winner at the Louisiana Federation of Teachers Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel Conference.

Helen Bias, a member of the Monroe Federation of Teachers and School Employees, received the Louisiana Federation of Teachers' Mother Jones Award at the LFT's annual Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel Conference.

Beverly Filmore, a member of the United Teachers of New Orleans, received the Louisiana Federation of Teachers' Outstanding Leadership Award at the LFT's annual Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel Conference.

St. Tammany Parish paraprofessional Tiffany Brinson was named the winner of a Louisiana Federation of Teachers PSRP Scholarship at the Federation's Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel Conference.

Jefferson Parish paraprofessional Kenyatta Bush was named a winner of a Louisiana Federation of Teachers PSRP Scholarship at the Federation's Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel Conference.

Jefferson Parish paraprofessional Gloria Parker was named a winner of a Louisiana Federation of Teachers PSRP Scholarship at the Federation's Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel Conference.

Our state is now facing a $1.1 billion budget shortfall, and the Louisana Federation of Teachers is advocating well-targeted investments in public education funding that could amount to billions over the next decade. That may sound like foolishness, but please hear us out.

Ruling: over 8,500 New Orleans teachers and school employees fired after Hurricane Katrina may seek  damages from the Orleans Parish School Board, the State of Louisiana, and its education agencies for claims of wrongful termination and breach of contract.

Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan was elected to his third term of office at the Federation’s 44th annual convention, held November 23-25 in Covington.

For more coverage of the 44th annual LFT convention, please click on the Recent News category of our Web page.

Two State Senators and a State Representative were honored today for their commitment to public education and the teachers and school employees who dedicate their careers to the children of our state.

(Covington – November 24, 2008)  Legendary labor leader Victor Bussie today received the highest honor bestowed by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.

Two longtime members and officers of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers received the Pioneer Award from the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. The award is presented annually to individuals who, over the years, made major contributions to the growth and influence of the LFT.

The Caddo Federation of Teachers and Support Personnel was one of five chapters of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers to receive the “Union Values in Action Award” on Sunday, November 23 at the 44th annual LFT convention in Covington.

The Calcasieu Federation of Teachers and School Employees was one of five chapters of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers to receive the “Union Values in Action Award” on Sunday, November 23 at the 44th annual LFT convention in Covington

The Jefferson Federation of Teachers was one of five chapters of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers to receive the “Union Values in Action Award” on Sunday, November 23 at the 44th annual LFT convention in Covington.

The Rapides Federation of Teachers and School Employees was one of five chapters of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers to receive the “Union Values in Action Award” on Sunday, November 23 at the 44th annual LFT convention in Covington.

The St. Tammany Federation of Teachers and School Employees was one of five chapters of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers to receive the “Union Values in Action Award” on Sunday, November 23 at the 44^th annual LFT convention in Covington.

The Caddo Federation of Teachers and Support Personnel was recognized for outstanding growth on November 23 at the 44th annual Louisiana Federation of Teachers convention in Covington.

The East Baton Rouge Federation of Teachers was recognized for outstanding growth on November 23 at the 44th annual Louisiana Federation of Teachers convention in Covington.

The Monroe Federation of Teachers and School Employees was recognized for outstanding growth on November 23 at the 44th annual Louisiana Federation of Teachers convention in Covington.

The Plaquemines Federation of Teachers and School Employees was recognized for outstanding growth on November 23 at the 44th annual Louisiana Federation of Teachers convention in Covington.

The Richland Federation of Teachers and School Employees was recognized for outstanding growth on November 23 at the 44th annual Louisiana Federation of Teachers convention in Covington.

The officers, staff and members of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers
wish you and yours a blessed holiday season and a happy new year!

The Louisiana Federation of Teachers won a prestigious Carl Megel Award for growth at an American Federation of Teachers national conference on November 13.