At the 45th annual Community College Conference sponsored by New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), the keynote address was delivered by Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (our national labor affiliate). Two days earlier, Weingarten had issued a press release with a statement on the recent election results; while she acknowledged that “at this moment, the country is more divided than ever, and our democracy is in jeopardy,” she sees good reason for hope: “our opportunity engines—labor unions and public schools—remain popular and enduring…”
This dual message was echoed in her keynote speech at the Conference. In response to concerns and even dire predictions about the imminent demise of democracy and the end of free elections, Weingarten said she is “not there.” Instead, she stressed the need to be thoughtful about the election results, and ask ourselves about the contrast between 2020’s results and this year’s: “What really happened? What really changed? Why the difference?” She argued that ultimately, four things accounted for the difference among the electorate: fear, anger, inflation and a loss of a sense of control.
“We have to listen to people to find solutions, and learn how to communicate with people in a way that’s heard.”
Weingarten urged us to become more connected to voters in America, saying “We have to listen to people to find solutions, and learn how to communicate with people in a way that’s heard.” Especially important, in her mind, is focusing on day-to-day economic concerns: “We have to be an economic unit, and take on economic issues…. The moment you become the indispensable engine to economic prosperity, nobody is going to want to take you out.” As educators and as union members, we are uniquely positioned to do so, and thereby reinforce core American values: “We must fight for the means and agency to secure a better life, and… public education and a growing labor movement are more important than ever,” Weingarten said.
This, too, was a note that she struck in her press release: “What binds us as Americans is far more important than what divides us… Educators, healthcare professionals and public employees will be doing everything they can to make a difference in the lives of the people they serve. And our guiding principle will be to continue to do the work to improve people’s lives: to fight for our children’s future and the promise of America.”
