Community Corner
National Teachers' Union Endorses Donovan at Platt High School
The American Federation of Teachers has 28,000 members in Connecticut in the fields of eduction, higher education, health care, and state and municipal government.
A major national teachers' union endorsed State House Speaker Chris Donovan (D-Meriden) in his bid for U.S. Congress at Platt High School Thursday.
Surrounded by teachers from the Meriden public school district, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Connecticut President Sharon Palmer announced that the union both nationally and locally would be backing Donovan as its candidate in the state's 2012 race for the 5th District.
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"I'm used to calling him Mister Speaker, but I'm looking forward to calling him Congressman Donovan," Palmer said. She has been with the AFT since 1989. "We have worked with Chris for a very long time, particularly on education issues. He has always been supportive of children's issues, teacher issues, education issues in general. We found him to be a person that we work with, who can bring consensus around issues of importance to all of us in the field of education."
The AFT has 28,000 members in Connecticut, and represents teachers, school personnel, higher education faculty, and also healthcare workers and state and municipal employees in more than 90 local unions across the state.
Find out what's happening in Meridenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"I want to thank AFT both Connecticut and national for their endorsement. Every morning the workers at AFT go to work and help middle class and working families get through their day and be better prepared for our world. Whether it's education from the youngest, kindergarten on up - to higher education," Donovan said.
"I personally know, because my two children – a grown son and daughter – are both graduates of the Meriden public school system and they had a tremendous education," Donovan said.
Donovan's daughter and son both attended Nathan Hale Elementary School, Washington Middle School and Maloney High School, on the city's East Side.
AFT joins several major unions in supporting Donovan, including State Police Union AFSCME Council 15, the IAFF - Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut, and the United Auto Workers Region 9A.
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