Every year, Teacher Appreciation Week, National Nurses Week and Public Service Recognition Week coincide. I like to think of it as a celebration of the collective dedicated work AFT members do to serve our communities and help people improve their lives.
I want to take a moment to say thank you AFT members.
For the 200,000 nurses and healthcare workers in the AFT, I want you to know that your work is invaluable. In the last year, you’ve saved lives and cared for patients, making sure they were treated with care and dignity even when our hospitals were stretched thin. You are the backbone of the healthcare system and deserve respect and recognition.
Public employees should feel proud during Public Service Recognition Week. You are defenders of democracy. From protecting our public health and public lands, to ensuring public safety and functioning public schools, America keeps going because of you.
Teachers deserve our heartfelt appreciation too. This week, more than 200 groups have joined us in a public statement supporting and thanking teachers—from pre-K to college—for everything they do. Your work changes lives for the better. Thank you for helping every child in America lay the groundwork to build a better life, which starts right in their very own school.
The work that every AFT member does matters. I want to personally thank you and to encourage you to thank each other. There are a lot of opportunities to do just that:
Take some time to thank public employees during Public Service Recognition Week by sharing this graphic.
Be sure to thank a nurse by signing this petition for safe staffing.
And show your support for teachers and school staff by adding your name to this list.
In unity,
Randi Weingarten
AFT President
P.S.: The attacks against us are continuing to mount, and we need every member and ally working together to push back. Please join our activist email list; I send regular updates about actions we can take to push back and fight for public education, healthcare, public services and democracy.