Featured Stories
National Education Union: NFER Report Shows Link Between Wellbeing and School Absence Rates
LONDON, England, July 23 (TNSxrep) -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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NFER report shows link between wellbeing and school absence rates
Commenting on new research from NFER suggesting a link between deteriorating pupil wellbeing and rates of persistent school absence, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"Getting pupil wellbeing and engagement right is essential to the government's White Paper proposals and its reforms to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). A more inclusive
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LONDON, England, July 23 (TNSxrep) -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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NFER report shows link between wellbeing and school absence rates
Commenting on new research from NFER suggesting a link between deteriorating pupil wellbeing and rates of persistent school absence, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"Getting pupil wellbeing and engagement right is essential to the government's White Paper proposals and its reforms to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). A more inclusivemainstream depends on pupils feeling safe and supported. Yet pupils with an education, health and care plan are twice as likely to be persistently absent as their peers, a gap the report does not address.
"Pupils in the study said the academic and social pressures of school harmed their wellbeing, and identified bullying - including online bullying - as a factor in absence. OECD data show pupils in England report more bullying than the international average. The message is clear: schools must listen to pupils and act on their concerns, including on curriculum and testing pressures.
"The report calls for properly resourced services to work alongside schools. We agree. The Experts at Hand initiative needs more money and child and adolescent mental health services are at breaking point. The effect of the under-16 social media ban must also be monitored.
"The new Secretary of State must connect attendance policy, SEND reform and investment in young people's mental health, so that every pupil belongs in a safe and supportive school and the decline in wellbeing is reversed."
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Original text here: https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/nfer-report-shows-link-between-wellbeing-and-school-absence-rates?_locale=en
[Category: Union]
NEU Comment on New Education Secretary, Lucy Powell
LONDON, England, July 22 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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NEU comment on new Education Secretary, Lucy Powell
Commenting on the appointment of Lucy Powell as secretary of state for education Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"Lucy Powell's experience as shadow education secretary should put her in good stead and ensure that she can hit the ground running. There is much to do and no time to waste.
"Schools have been told for too long to do more with less. They are now being asked to
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LONDON, England, July 22 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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NEU comment on new Education Secretary, Lucy Powell
Commenting on the appointment of Lucy Powell as secretary of state for education Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"Lucy Powell's experience as shadow education secretary should put her in good stead and ensure that she can hit the ground running. There is much to do and no time to waste.
"Schools have been told for too long to do more with less. They are now being asked tofind almost half a billion pounds they do not have to plug the funding gap in the government's teacher pay offer. The NEU is preparing a formal ballot on this issue, and it is not too late for government to change course. It should accept that it was wrong to have ever suggested there are 'efficiencies' to be made in school budgets when the education system is on its knees.
"Bridget Phillipson was hampered from the start by a wider government policy of continuity austerity that has alienated voters and stagnated services. Now is the opportunity for a step change that parents, schools, teachers and support staff can recognise as a break with the past.
"Reset must mean more than a change of faces. It must also mean a change of direction."
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Original text here: https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/neu-comment-new-education-secretary-lucy-powell?_locale=en
[Category: Union]
Teamsters Land Industry-Leading Deal at United Airlines
WASHINGTON, July 21 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Teamsters Land Industry-Leading Deal at United Airlines
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Press Contact: Lena Melentijevic Phone: (347) 208-2279 Email: LMelentijevic@teamster.org
The Teamsters Union has reached an agreement in principle with United Airlines (UA) on a new contract for more than 11,000 mechanics and related employees nationwide, delivering a major victory after nearly two years of relentless bargaining and member-led contract action. The full bargaining committee, made up of UA business
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WASHINGTON, July 21 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Teamsters Land Industry-Leading Deal at United Airlines
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Press Contact: Lena Melentijevic Phone: (347) 208-2279 Email: LMelentijevic@teamster.org
The Teamsters Union has reached an agreement in principle with United Airlines (UA) on a new contract for more than 11,000 mechanics and related employees nationwide, delivering a major victory after nearly two years of relentless bargaining and member-led contract action. The full bargaining committee, made up of UA businessagents and rank-and-filers, voted 19-to-12 to recommend the agreement in principle to members for ratification.
The victory secures industry-leading wage increases and clear job protections, accelerates progression to top pay from eight years to five, and delivers a $54 million signing bonus upon ratification, which will provide payments of $5,000 to each member. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters fully recommends ratification of this agreement.
The contract breakthrough follows an aggressive campaign by the Teamsters Union. Throughout bargaining, Teamsters fought for an industry-leading agreement that reflects members' critical work maintaining one of the largest airline fleets in the world and keeping millions of passengers safe.
"For nearly two years, Teamsters at United stared down a multibillion-dollar corporation and demanded a contract worthy of their skills and the huge profits they generate," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "Our members took on one of the biggest airlines in the world and won. This agreement will raise the bar for every airline worker in America. The Teamsters standard just went up again. We are proud to recommend this powerful, industry-leading contract."
The new agreement in principle secures significant gains for members, including:
The Teamsters UA committee will finalize language and provide members with final details as soon as possible. Once a tentative agreement is complete, members will have the opportunity to review the full contract and vote for ratification.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents over 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
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Original text here: https://teamster.org/2026/07/teamsters-land-industry-leading-deal-at-united-airlines/
Swaybox Workers in Louisiana Vote to Unionize, Winning One of the Largest Organizing Campaigns in Recent Film and Television History
NEW YORK, July 21 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees posted the following news release:
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Swaybox Workers in Louisiana Vote to Unionize, Winning One of the Largest Organizing Campaigns in Recent Film and Television History
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NEW ORLEANS, LA. -Workers at Swaybox Studios in New Orleans have voted to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), securing union representation through a National Labor Relations Board election and marking one of the largest film and television organizing victories in the union's recent
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NEW YORK, July 21 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees posted the following news release:
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Swaybox Workers in Louisiana Vote to Unionize, Winning One of the Largest Organizing Campaigns in Recent Film and Television History
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NEW ORLEANS, LA. -Workers at Swaybox Studios in New Orleans have voted to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), securing union representation through a National Labor Relations Board election and marking one of the largest film and television organizing victories in the union's recenthistory.
Swaybox is currently working on a Warner Bros. Pictures Animation feature with a budget of approximately $90 million. As a result, this victory represents one of the largest organizing drives in film and television production undertaken by IATSE in recent years and expands union representation into an area of animation where workers have long lacked industry-standard protections.
The newly organized bargaining unit includes 136 workers, a number expected to grow significantly as Swaybox moves deeper into production on current and future projects. The group includes a broad cross-section of animation, visual effects, editorial, puppet and set fabrication, costume, prop, technical, engineering, production support, information technology, facilities, and administrative workers who bring Swaybox's stop-motion productions to life.
Workers voted to unionize after reaching out to IATSE seeking support for industry standard wages, working conditions, benefits, and a stronger voice on the job- conditions that are standard in Warner Bros. and other major studios agreements with the IATSE. The margin of victory of counted ballots was 71.4 percent.
Workers began this campaign by taking the first step and reaching out to their union for help. "Too many workers in this segment of the entertainment industry believe they have to accept low pay or poor conditions because they're told that's how the job works," said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb. "The workers at Swaybox proved otherwise. If you're working non-union and things aren't right, if pay is low, take the first step and call the union. We'll have your back."
Simonette Berry, Business Agent of IATSE Local 478, said: "This campaign began last summer when Swaybox workers from across the production reached out to Local 478 because they wanted a real voice on the job. Today, by standing together across crafts and departments, they've shown that productions coming to Louisiana to build world-class films can't expect to succeed by lowering standards or ignoring the people whose talent and dedication bring those projects to life. Their courage and solidarity send a powerful message: when workers stand together, they have the power to shape their future. This victory belongs to the crew."
IATSE also called attention to what the union describes as an unnecessary and costly anti-union campaign. Rather than proactively recognizing workers' desire for representation and working toward an industry-standard labor agreement, the union says Swaybox and its production partners chose a different path.
"Swaybox and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation had every opportunity to do the right thing and engage constructively with workers and their union from the beginning," said IATSE International Vice President Mike Miller. "Instead, workers were forced through an extended election process while management retained an expensive union-busting law firm. That decision created unnecessary conflict, expense, and delay."
The union further argued that the campaign raises broader questions about the role and responsibilities of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, which has publicly asserted ownership and control over the intellectual property and production associated with the project. According to IATSE, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation sought to portray Swaybox workers and the production itself as integral to its intellectual property interests, while simultaneously distancing itself from responsibility for labor standards and established union relationships within the motion picture industry.
The union is calling on the leaders of Swaybox, along with Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, to move immediately toward negotiating an industry-standard collective bargaining agreement that respects the workers' democratic decision to unionize. "The workers have now spoken clearly, and we expect Swaybox and Warner Bros. to come to an industry standard agreement immediately," said Vice President Miller.
The election result is a call to action among film, television, animation, and digital media workers seeking collective bargaining rights across North America. As production models evolve and new sectors emerge, workers are increasingly demanding the same wages, benefits, protections, and workplace voice that union standards have established throughout much of the entertainment industry.
Arvid Cristina, Assistant MoMo Editor said, "When workers feel heard, morale improves, and productivity improves. This will be a good thing for all parties involved. I have enjoyed my time here, and have enjoyed watching them grow. This is the next step in that growth."
Natalie Usie, Production Secretary said, "I am incredibly proud to stand alongside our crew members, who dedicate immense time and creative energy to bringing this film to life. More than that, I am proud of how we collectively stood up for one another to secure an opportunity to collaborate with Swaybox for our future. We have finally earned the power to negotiate in good faith for proper titles, fair pay, enhanced benefits, job security, and better working conditions.
One of the most rewarding parts of this project has been handling diverse tasks that span across various positions and skill sets. While we are grateful for the experience and knowledge gained by stepping outside our traditional roles, proper titles and compensation are deserved for the actual work our crew has delivered. This versatility is something we deeply value, and many of us hope to continue working at these multifaceted levels. I look forward to seeing this project to completion and supporting both this film and the future of Swaybox as a studio. Ultimately, our goal is to pave the way for future generations of Swaybox employees, ensuring they receive the same benefits we are fighting for today."
Matthew Laird, Puppet Generalist said, "I love the art of puppetry. It's been my career for 20 years. As technology evolves, puppetry has become more of a novelty. That's why I believe Swaybox is doing something really special and innovative. But when you grow rapidly from a small-scale operation to a big-budget movie, you need help. People and concerns get left behind. So it's exciting as an employee to unionize. This is a legitimizing force for Swaybox. It puts them and all of us on the map in a big way. Working as a collective and sitting down at the table together means Swaybox has truly arrived on the scene. I'm looking forward to seeing this project completed, and I can't wait to see what's next for Swaybox."
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Original text here: https://iatse.net/swaybox-workers-in-louisiana-vote-to-unionize-winning-one-of-the-largest-organizing-campaigns-in-recent-film-and-television-history/
National Education Union: Andy Burnham Appointed Prime Minister - Hope for a Fresh Start
LONDON, England, July 21 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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Andy Burnham appointed Prime Minister: hope for a fresh start
Commenting on Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"The National Education Union welcomes the appointment of the new Prime Minister and looks forward to working with him and his government.
"Upon becoming Labour leader on Friday, Andy Burnham said his government would be all about delivering hope for every young person.
"Educators
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LONDON, England, July 21 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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Andy Burnham appointed Prime Minister: hope for a fresh start
Commenting on Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"The National Education Union welcomes the appointment of the new Prime Minister and looks forward to working with him and his government.
"Upon becoming Labour leader on Friday, Andy Burnham said his government would be all about delivering hope for every young person.
"Educatorswill welcome this statement. Although teachers, support staff and school leaders do their best every day to achieve the very best outcomes for children and young people, after over a decade of austerity and chronic underfunding in our schools they feel that they are forced to do their jobs with one hand tied behind their backs. They have had enough of being told to do more with less.
"Delivering hope will require an end to unfunded pay awards that do not value educators and only serve to fuel the retention crisis in education.
"Delivering hope will mean that good intentions on SEND reforms are coupled with the investment that is so desperately needed to make them a success.
"On Friday our national executive confirmed a formal ballot in the autumn on pay and funding. It is simply not sustainable to continue to underfund pay offers - it can only translate into cuts to learning. Schools are already on their knees.
"As the academic year draws to a close, the new Prime Minister offers some hope for a fresh start and the delivery of the change that so many voters cried out for at the last election."
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Original text here: https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/andy-burnham-appointed-prime-minister-hope-fresh-start?_locale=en
[Category: Union]
CWA Report Finds AT&T-BlackRock Joint Venture Gigapower Plagued by Deployment Delays, Missed Targets, and Litigation
WASHINGTON, July 21 [Category: Union] (TNSrep) -- The AFL-CIO Communications Workers of America posted the following news release:
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New CWA Report Finds AT&T-BlackRock Joint Venture Gigapower Plagued by Deployment Delays, Missed Targets, and Litigation
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A new report released today by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) has revealed that Gigapower-the joint venture launched by AT&T and private equity investment giant BlackRock to build fiber broadband networks-appears to be failing to meet its on-time buildout targets, withholding key performance metrics from investors, and facing
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WASHINGTON, July 21 [Category: Union] (TNSrep) -- The AFL-CIO Communications Workers of America posted the following news release:
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New CWA Report Finds AT&T-BlackRock Joint Venture Gigapower Plagued by Deployment Delays, Missed Targets, and Litigation
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A new report released today by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) has revealed that Gigapower-the joint venture launched by AT&T and private equity investment giant BlackRock to build fiber broadband networks-appears to be failing to meet its on-time buildout targets, withholding key performance metrics from investors, and facinglegal challenges in a $200 million dispute that calls the business model into question more than three years after its launch.
The report, "Gigapower's Flimsy Phase One: Deployment Delays, Missed Targets, and Litigation," analyzes Gigapower's deployments in Arizona, Minnesota, Nevada, and New Mexico through corporate disclosures, municipal public records, litigation documents, and field investigations. It builds on two prior CWA reports that exposed widespread workforce fragmentation and substandard work in the company's early deployments in Arizona.
The report examines court filings in a lawsuit between Gigapower and its former prime contractor, Tilson Technology Management, in which Gigapower alleged that in Arizona, Tilson failed to deploy broadband to even a single living unit in 2023 against a target of 11,000. This mirrors slow progress across the markets CWA investigated. In Minnesota, the City of Bloomington issued ten separate stop-work orders to Gigapower and its contractors between April and October 2024. In Nevada, the City of Las Vegas issued a notice of default in January 2025, triggering what Gigapower itself described as an "extended pause" that "imperiled Gigapower's entire Las Vegas network." In New Mexico, the City of Albuquerque issued a two-week stop-work order to Gigapower in December 2024, and by November 2025, the company had reached only approximately one-fifth (20%) of its forecasted buildout target in the city.
The report also finds that Gigapower's "lowest bidder" contractor model may be putting workers and communities at risk. Across three different markets, approximately 20% of contractors CWA identified working on Gigapower projects appear to have been unlicensed or unregistered in their respective states. In Bloomington, that figure exceeded 40%. In one especially egregious case, the New Mexico Department of Justice found that Boreworxx Construction LLC-a Gigapower subcontractor that was unlicensed when it began work-illegally filed liens on nearly 200 residential properties in Albuquerque "in an attempt to frighten and manipulate homeowners" and pressure Gigapower's general contractor, Circet USA, into paying for Boreworxx's fiber work that allegedly was not completed satisfactorily.
"After more than three years and billions of dollars in commitments, AT&T and BlackRock have not proven their Gigapower thesis. Highly trained, union broadband technicians have been sounding the alarm about this race-to-the-bottom workforce model from the beginning. Now city officials, residents, and contractors are up in arms, too. Investors deserve transparency, communities deserve safe and reliable deployment, and workers deserve good union jobs. Gigapower is delivering none of the above," said Fernando Roman, CWA District 7 Campaign Lead and a broadband technician of 25 years.
The report further documents that, despite repeated assurances from AT&T CEO John Stankey that the company would disclose Gigapower-specific penetration rates, revenue figures, and connection numbers to investors, AT&T continues to report Gigapower's metrics only on a combined basis with its multiple other fiber ventures. New Street Research analyst Jonathan Chaplin recently noted that Gigapower's locations "are still too small to matter after over two years of being in business."
Gigapower's legal entanglements add another layer of potential risk. Former prime contractor Tilson filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2025 and then sued Gigapower for more than $200 million in July 2025 for breach of contract. In October 2025, the bankruptcy court approved the sale of Tilson's claims to Winston I LLC, a litigation finance vehicle whose objective, according to industry analysts, is solely to maximize recovery.
Beyond delays and litigation, the report finds Gigapower's overall strategy is showing signs of flimsiness. The company failed to win any funding under the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program; walked away from discussions with cities including Omaha and Phoenix; and took more than two years to announce its first non-AT&T tenant on its supposed open-access network.
CWA is calling on investors and public officials to demand transparency and accountability from AT&T and BlackRock and to rethink Gigapower's race-to-the-bottom workforce approach.
Read the full report here (https://cwa-union.org/gigapowers-flimsy-phase-one).
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About CWA
The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields. cwa-union.org @cwaunion
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Original text here: https://cwa-union.org/news/releases/new-cwa-report-finds-att-blackrock-joint-venture-gigapower-plagued-deployment-delays
'One Big Bill' Story-Gathering Campaign Launches to Document the Financial Harm of OBBBA on Working Families with Student Loan Debt
WASHINGTON, July 21 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Teachers issued the following news release:
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'One Big Bill' Story-Gathering Campaign Launches to Document the Financial Harm of OBBBA on Working Families with Student Loan Debt
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WASHINGTON -On July 1, the unprecedented cuts to the federal student loan system as a result of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act went into effect. In response, a broad coalition of labor unions, consumer protection, students, borrower advocates and civil rights organizations launched the " One Big Bill " campaign today
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WASHINGTON, July 21 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Teachers issued the following news release:
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'One Big Bill' Story-Gathering Campaign Launches to Document the Financial Harm of OBBBA on Working Families with Student Loan Debt
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WASHINGTON -On July 1, the unprecedented cuts to the federal student loan system as a result of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act went into effect. In response, a broad coalition of labor unions, consumer protection, students, borrower advocates and civil rights organizations launched the " One Big Bill " campaign todayto elevate the stories of millions of Americans with student loan debt, documenting their spiking student loan bills and other devastating financial consequences from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Borrowers are invited to share their stories and new monthly student loan bills at onebigbill.org and describe how rising costs are affecting their households. The story-gathering campaign is backed by the AFT, Protect Borrowers, the NAACP, the National Association of Social Workers, the Student Debt Crisis Center, Young Invincibles, EdTrust, the American Association of University Women, the Consumer Federation of America, the United States Student Association, and the Council on Social Work Education. In addition, the groups will be monitoring stories for examples of student-loan servicers failing to do their jobs and making it even harder for working families to repay their student loan debt.
"President Trump's Big Ugly Bill is now forcing student loan borrowers to pay hundreds more per month in repayments," said AFT President Randi Weingarten. "But Congress seems determined to ignore the financial damage its signature legislation has inflicted. That's why we're encouraging borrowers with unaffordable student debt to publicly share their own One Big Student Loan Bill at onebigbill.org. It's time for lawmakers to pay attention to the struggles of working- and middle-class borrowers squeezed by rising costs and finally act to fix America's $1.7 trillion student loan crisis."
"The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will do exactly what its name suggests: It hits American families with one big student loan bill," said Amy Czulada, senior advisor for outreach and engagement of Protect Borrowers. "When President Trump signed the OBBBA, he cut millions in resources that families rely on to pay for college and repay their student loan debt, all to cover tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations. Today, the consequences of this law are hitting families in their pocketbooks when they can least afford it."
"For Black borrowers, the student debt crisis is already holding back millions of families from building generational wealth and achieving the American Dream. Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill law will make this crisis even worse," said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson. "This new law will force student loan bills to skyrocket and bury even more families in debt. That's why the NAACP is standing with this coalition and calling on borrowers to submit their new student loan bill at onebigbill.org. We must show policymakers in Washington the consequences of their decision to put billionaires over families."
The One Big Bill campaign will amplify the stories of student loan borrowers from communities across the country, make sure policymakers understand the financial devastation they have caused for working families, and urge policymakers to repair this harm and provide much-needed relief.
Background
The launch of this campaign comes as the student loan cuts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act take effect, triggering massive cuts to long-standing student loan safety net and financial aid programs, while gutting other critical programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The launch also coincides with the Trump administration's decision to force 7 million borrowers out of the Biden-era Saving on an Affordable Repayment Plan and into significantly more expensive plans.
Rising student loan costs are hitting as Americans face an ongoing cost-of-living, affordability and debt crisis. Most Americans are already struggling to afford rent, groceries and childcare. In particular, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act changes arrive at a moment of serious chaos and hardship in the student loan system. One in 5 borrowers (nearly 9 million Americans ) are in default, and 1 in 4 borrowers with a payment due are now delinquent. During the first year of the second Trump administration, a student loan borrower defaulted every nine seconds, a rate three times higher than before the pandemic.
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Original text here: https://www.aft.org/press-release/one-big-bill-story-gathering-campaign-launches-document-financial-harm-obbba-working
