Labor finds new allies to push for clean energy jobs — Labor unions and environmental groups making up the Blue Green Alliance got a boost recently by joining forces with new partners—including retired generals and other veterans, farmers, business leaders and the faith community—to learn more about clean energy legislation in Congress and to visit their senators on Capitol Hill.

AFT activists from Florida, Ohio and West Virginia took part in the Clean Energy, Jobs and Security Forum in January, which featured panels on how creating green jobs will advance the nation’s security.

At the forum, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu described how China has become the world’s top producer of solar panels, electric cars and other green devices invented in the United States, and how our country needs to reverse that trend.

In a new twist for the alliance, two retired generals and other military leaders said they are organizing veterans in support of the energy bill, explaining how climate change and energy insecurity are increasing instability around the world.

AFT outlines new path for public education — In a major address Jan. 12 at the National Press Club, AFT President Randi Weingarten outlined a comprehensive reform plan that can help move public education from an industrial model to one that will better prepare students for today’s knowledge economy.

In her speech, “A New Path Forward: Four Approaches to Quality Teaching and Better Schools,” Weingarten laid out a new approach to teacher evaluation, saying that a strong teacher development and evaluation system is crucial to improving teaching, and is essential for a fair and efficient due process system.

Video and text of her complete speech, as well as multiple supporting documents, are available at www.aft.org.