Fairfax County
federation of teachers
YOUR aft Union for Education Professionals
LATEST News
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.
TAKE ACTION NOW
The most important thing you can do right now is join your union - it takes 5 minutes or less.
Send a one-click letter to the Board of Supervisors to urge them to fully fund our salaries with a step increase and market scale adjustment.
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 during the pandemic, FCFT staff are providing services via telephone and email. Union staff are implementing Telework and are closed for face-to-face encounters.
STAY INFORMED
To keep members in the loop, it's vital we have your updated contact info.
FCFT Members are automatically added to our email list. If you are not a member, please Contact Us.
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.
Social Media
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. 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.
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.
Our union must win collective bargaining. 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.
Return to school
FCFT recommendations regarding returning to schools can be viewed here.
In light of the ongoing “return to schools” conversation, FCFT’s President Tina Williams issued the following statement in 2020.
“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 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.
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. 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 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-/