American Federation of Teachers

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is the second-largest teachers' union in the United States. It was founded in 1916 in Chicago, Illinois. The AFT is a prominent affiliate of the AFL-CIO and plays a significant role in education policy, teacher advocacy, and political activism.

History

The AFT was established on April 15, 1916, with Charles Stillman as its first president and Margaret Haley as the national organizer. Initially, the union focused on improving working conditions and wages for teachers. By 1919, the AFT had grown to include 100 local affiliates and about 11,000 members. However, its early growth was hindered by opposition from school administrators and politicians, leading to a decline in membership by the early 1930s.

During the Great Depression, membership increased as the AFT became more active in advocating for teachers' rights and academic freedom. By the late 1940s, the AFT began to emphasize collective bargaining, and by the end of the 1970s, it had successfully negotiated agreements covering 72% of public school teachers.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the AFT was involved in numerous teacher strikes, including significant actions in New York City led by Albert Shanker. Shanker later became president of the AFT, leading it until 1997.

Membership and Structure

Today, the AFT represents approximately 1.8 million members across more than 3,000 local affiliates. Its membership includes pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals, higher education faculty, government employees, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.

The union is governed by an executive council and officers elected by its members. Randi Weingarten has been the president since 2008.

Activities

• Advocacy and Policy: The AFT has been a vocal advocate for teacher tenure, opposing reforms that would make it easier to remove teachers from jobs. It also actively campaigns against charter schools and vouchers, which it sees as threats to public education.

• Civil Rights and Social Justice: Historically, the AFT has been strong on civil rights issues. It was one of the first unions to admit African-American members, and it supported landmark civil rights cases like Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.

• Collective Bargaining: The AFT has been a leader in collective bargaining in education, securing significant agreements that protect teachers' rights and improve working conditions.

• Publications and Resources: The AFT publishes the American Educator, a quarterly magazine that addresses educational issues. It also sponsors projects like Share My Lesson, a resource for teachers to share curriculum ideas and lesson plans.

Political Influence

The AFT is a major player in American politics, particularly within the Democratic Party. The union actively supports Democratic candidates and contributes millions of dollars to federal elections.

Leadership and Legacy

Under leaders like Albert Shanker and Randi Weingarten, the AFT has maintained its role as a powerful voice in education policy debates. It continues to advocate for improvements in public education, teacher rights, and student outcomes.

References

(References are available upon request, as specific source citations are not directly linked here.)