Like the mythological phoenix rising from the ashes, attacks on our public retirement systems are once again making news. At the request of Speaker of the House Jim Tucker (R-Terrytown), the joint Senate and House Committees on Retirement are meeting to discuss “reforming” the retirement incomes of teachers, school employees and other public servants. Their mission affects the four state retirement systems: the Teacher Retirement System of Louisiana, the Louisiana School Employees Retirement System, the Louisiana State Employees Retirement System, and the Louisiana State Police Retirement System.

As with similar legislative efforts over the past years, Tucker wants to consider a radical restructure of the four state systems. Future employees would have a retirement plan that depends solely on the performance of the stock market. Those unfortunate enough to have their retirement savings invested in a 401(k) know all too well how badly that can turn out.

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Dear Colleague, In “Man of La Mancha,” the Broadway musical adaption of Cervantes’ classic Don Quixote, the hero sings that his mission is “to fight for the right, without question or pause; to be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause.”

Don Quixote was a lone individual, while the Louisiana Federation of Teachers is a union whose strength derives from the combined power of thousands of members. Yet our mission is the same — to fight for the right.

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Louisiana Federation of Teachers 45th Annual Convention November 22-24, 2009 Airport Hilton Hotel Kenner, Louisiana

AFT alleges Filipino teacher recruiter violated federal labor laws

National union adds charges to those filed by LFT

Adding to the troubles faced by Filipino teacher recruiter Lourdes "Lulu" Navarro, the American Federation of Teachers has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor. The complaint alleges that Navarro's company, Universal Placement International, violated federal laws when it exploited, intimidated and threatened the teachers.

The federal complaint follows closely on the heels of charges filed with the Louisiana Workforce Commission and Attorney General, alleging that Navarro violated state laws when she recruited over 200 Filipino teachers to work in school districts across the state.

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AFT Benefits offers personal legal assistance

AFT is committed to enhancing the economic well-being of its members. With the purchasing power of AFT's 1.4 million members, AFT + Member Benefits is able to bring you a range of quality programs at affordable prices.

There’s no enrollment fee. In fact, three out of four members get their legal issues handled without paying a penny. To locate a participating attorney in your area, go to www.unionplus.org/legal.

Discover all the discounts, services, insurance, financial services and travel programs available to AFT members as a benefit of membership. For more information on these programs, contact Cynthia Posey, your AFT+ Member Benefits Coordinator at 225-923-1037, tool free 800-634-5089 or click here to visit LFT’s Member Benefits Page.

What YOU need to know about the FLU! Please click here to visit the American Federation of Teachers' resource pages about the H1N1 influenza A virus. Read what you need to know about the flu, how you should be prepared if the outbreak reaches your school, and what you can do to minimize your risk of infection. The site will be updated as new information becomes available.

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