Fairfax County
federation of teachers
YOUR aft Union for Education Professionals
LATEST News
8 in 10 teachers lack confidence in the FCPS reopening plan. Less than 10% feel safe to return. A majority are unsure or considering leaving FCPS if forced to work in an unsafe school. Read our member survey results.
Any reopening must prioritize safety. FCFT members have developed the blueprint to protect all students, families, and staff. Check out our 11 Pillars and Building Safety Checklist below, and see if your school meets the grade.
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Stand together with your coworkers, protect each other, and advocate for your rights and your students' rights.
Contact Union STAFF
7405 Alban Station Ct. Suite B215
Springfield, VA 22150
T: (703) 451-6840
F: (703) 644-0330
E:
To continue to assist and support our members through this tough time FCFT is open and providing services to our members via telephone and email. Union staff are implementing Telework and are closed for face-to-face encounters. Please visit the COVID-19 subheading in the top menu for more info.
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who ARE FCFT Members?
PRE K-12 EDUCATORS + SCHOOL STAFF
FCFT educators include teachers, specialists, busdrivers, instructional assistants, school counselors, food service workers, custodians, office staff, librarians and more. Our members actively work to better public education by promoting effective public education policy, organizing to improve pay and working conditions, and fighting for better learning conditions for all students.
All non-administrative, non-supervisory FCPS employees are eligible to join FCFT.
RETIRED EDUCATORS
Our retiree affiliate, Fairfax County Federation of Retired Teachers (FCFRT) is an organization of retired teachers, instructional assistants, counselors, and other educational employees of the public education system. All members of FCFRT are retired from, or at one time worked in the school system in Northern Virginia or reside here in Northern Virginia, but have worked in school systems elsewhere.
FCFT NEWS
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Return to school
FCFT recommendations regarding returning to schools can be viewed here.
In response to FCPS’ request that educators return to schools to pack-up their classrooms and in light of the ongoing “return to schools” conversation, FCFT’s President Tina Williams issued the following statement.
“Our union’s number one priority during this crisis is the health and safety of our members, their families and the people we serve. Our schools serve many purposes. They educate our students and act as centers of community. All activities done at schools, must be done safely, equitably and intentionally to ensure the health and safety of our educators, schools and communities. We stand united with our members on the front line of this crisis to support, protect and advocate for their health, safety, well-being and economic security.
As FCPS discusses a return to school plan, we urge them to continue to work with our union to ensure educators have a seat at the table and are part of the decision-making process before any decisions are made.”
FCFT reminds all members that if they have concerns about returning to schools to pack up their classrooms, they can contact their principal to opt-out. Our union is also available for help and support during this process.
Our President Tina Williams was on the nightly news in May talking about different options FCPS is considering for returning to schools.
Big news! Governor Northam approved a historic bill overturning the state’s blanket ban on public sector collective bargaining, but inserted an unnecessary amendment delaying its implementation for a year. The bill will allow school boards and local governments to engage in collective bargaining with their employees. The governor’s action may delay that outcome, but it will not stop our progress toward equity and fairness. Read our full statement here.
In February 2020, the FCPS School Board voted unanimously to support collective bargaining rights for our states’ public workers. In addition, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to support collective bargaining. This is significant because Fairfax County Public Schools is the 3rd largest employer in Virginia and has opposed collective bargaining for the past 20 years. The Board’s historic vote recognizes that localities support the rights of educators to have a voice at work and the power to negotiate for improved school conditions. It is a huge victory that leads the way for other school boards in the state to follow. Most importantly, it helps chart the path to a better life for our teachers, better schools for our students and a better community for us all.
With collective bargaining, we will be able to fight for long overdue building repairs, negotiate higher compensation, and push for smaller classroom sizes. Thanks to the legislature, the School Board and Board of Supervisors policy position, this could be a reality, not just a proposal. It’s time for Virginia to give workers the voice and respect they deserve.
Watch here to see Dr. Babur Lateef, Chairman of the Prince William County School Board, and Tina Williams, President of the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, join Lindsey Davis Stover to discuss public education and collective bargaining in Virginia.
FCFT in the Community
Black Lives Matter
June 2020: FCFT President Tina Williams speaks out on the murders of black people around the country and the need to continue the fight for justice across our society.
Facial Masks for Minority Communities
The Omicron Kappa Kappa (OKK) Foundation is partnering with the Northern Virginia Equity Agenda Coalition (NOVA EAC) and First Baptist Church of Vienna to purchase 20,000 masks from an unaffiliated third-party vendor to distribute to minority and lower-income families to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The OKK Foundation is a northern Virginia-based 501 (C) (3), and the charitable arm of the OKK Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. The organization has been providing scholarships and mentoring young people since 2002. The NOVA EAC is composed of twenty Northern Virginia-based organizations that collaborate to promote non-partisan solutions to improve racial and gender equity. Once purchased, the masks will be distributed to a vast network of Northern Virginia charitable community organizations to include, Koinonia Foundation, United Community, Groveton Baptist Church, Western Fairfax Christian Ministries, Cornerstones Assistance Services and Pantry Program, Gum Springs Community Center, Creekside Village Apartments, First Baptist Church of Vienna, and others in multiple counties.
Please help spread the word on social media as well as to your organization networks. Remember these donations are tax deductible.
The link is:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/facial-masks-for-minority-communities
“Invest in Fairfax,” Says Grassroots Coalition
Reaction to County Executive’s FY21 Advertised Budget
Members of Invest in Fairfax, a grassroots coalition of community members, local families, county employees, teachers, first responders and others assemble in the forum of the Fairfax County Government Building immediately following Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill's FY 2021 budget proposal to the Board of Supervisors. They call on the Board to work with the public to pass a budget that invests in Fairfax. Photo by Mercia Hobson.
http://www.fairfaxconnection.com/news/2020/mar/11/invest-fairfax-says-grassroots-coalition-/
FCFT SayS Fund Our Future!
Our President, Tina Williams testified before the Board of Supervisors at the budget public hearing on April 28,2020 and called on them to adopt a budget that prioritizes students and educators so we recover from COVID19.
