Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1476161
Taking Care of You During National Self-Care Awareness Month in Septem- ber — and all year long — take advantage of opportunities to boost your health and wellness. For example, Kaiser Permanente (KP) is offering free, virtual stress management classes to both KP and non-KP members as a community resource; weekly offerings are in both English and Spanish. Visit webinars.on24.com/fehbp/Classes to register. Topics include relationship communication, how to handle anxiety, managing conflict, and work-related stress management. Know your legal rights when it comes to depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health condi- tions in the workplace: Go to bit.ly/3SthYKS. Unionism on the Rise #UnionStrong! Educators have long known the value of union representation, and it is becoming clearer to more workers than it has been in many years. Recent high-profile union campaigns among workers at companies such as Starbucks and Amazon have brought greater attention to the labor move- ment and organizing. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) noted in July that during the first nine months of its 2022 fiscal year (Oct. 1– June 30), union representation petitions filed at the NLRB have increased 56 percent — up to 1,935 from 1,240 during the first three quarters of the previous year. (At the same time, unfair labor practice charges have increased 14.5 percent — from 11,451 to 13,106.) When we unite and speak truth to power, we have an enor- mous impact. When educators are respected, appreciated, heard, and have the resources needed, students thrive. By joining together, we have more power to advocate for: • Better learning conditions for our students • Better working conditions • Better pay and benefits For more on the union advantage, go to nea.org/your-rights-workplace/union-educator-voice, and watch the video at bit.ly/3Jp6pzW. Deposit Photos Alejandro Pinero Amerio/Unsplash SEPTEMBER: Attendance Awareness Month Chronic absence — missing 10 percent or more of school days due to absence for any reason — can translate into students having difficulty learning to read by the third grade, achieving in middle school, and graduating from high school. Help ensure students attend school regularly with tools and strate- gies from Attendance Works (attendanceworks.org), such as curriculum designed to equip educators with an understanding of chronic absence, and guidance and resources to improve attendance in grades K-12. 12 cta.org In the Know N E W S & N O T E S