American Federation of Teachers
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| American Federation of Teachers | |
|---|---|
 American Federation of Teachers · Public domain · source | |
| Name | American Federation of Teachers |
| Founded | 1916 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Affiliation | AFL–CIO |
| Members | 1,600,000 (approx.) |
American Federation of Teachers is a labor union representing educators and allied professionals in the United States. Founded in 1916, it has played a central role in 20th- and 21st-century labor movements involving public school teachers, higher education faculty, and healthcare workers. The organization engages in collective bargaining, political lobbying, professional development, and nationwide campaigns linked to labor rights and social policy.
History
The organization's origins trace to early 20th-century labor activism, intersecting with figures and events such as Samuel Gompers, American Federation of Labor, Progressive Era, World War I, and Florence Kelley. Key milestones include affiliation with the AFL–CIO, responses to the New Deal, and positions during the Great Depression. Postwar expansion connected the union to debates involving Brown v. Board of Education, McCarthyism, and the Civil Rights Movement. Later developments involved clashes and collaborations with entities like National Education Association, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, No Child Left Behind Act, and reform movements associated with Bill Gates and the Walton Family Foundation. Contemporary history includes engagement with the Occupy Movement, the 2018 U.S. teacher strikes, and alliances with public-sector unions such as the Service Employees International Union.
Organization and Structure
Governance has followed models influenced by conventions of established labor federations such as AFL–CIO and internal structures comparable to unions like United Auto Workers and Teamsters. Leadership posts include presidents and executive vice presidents who have interacted with public figures including Randi Weingarten, Albert Shanker, and predecessors active during administrations like Lyndon B. Johnson and Barack Obama. The federation comprises state affiliates and local unions that coordinate with municipal bargaining units seen in cities such as New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston. Committees address contracts, legal strategy, and political action akin to structures in unions such as the Communication Workers of America.
Membership and Demographics
Membership spans K–12 teachers, higher education faculty, early childhood educators, school-related personnel, and healthcare professionals from institutions like Columbia University, University of California, and municipal school districts including Boston Public Schools and Philadelphia School District. Demographic shifts mirror broader labor trends seen in studies by organizations like the Bureau of Labor Statistics and intersect with movements represented by activists similar to Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez. Membership composition has been affected by policies at state levels such as those in Wisconsin, Texas, and Florida, as well as court decisions like Janus v. AFSCME that altered public-sector union finances.
Collective Bargaining and Labor Actions
The federation has pursued collective bargaining strategies reflected in high-profile negotiations in locales including Seattle, West Virginia, and Los Angeles Unified School District. Labor actions have included strikes and walkouts similar to events in West Virginia teachers' strike, the 2018 strikes in West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Arizona, and coordinated campaigns like the Red for Ed movement. Contract disputes have involved pension systems such as CalSTRS and Teacher Retirement System of Texas, and policy debates over standardized testing frameworks linked to Every Student Succeeds Act and Common Core State Standards Initiative.
Political Activity and Advocacy
Political engagement encompasses lobbying, endorsements, and campaign involvement with parties and figures like the Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and local mayoral races in cities such as Detroit and Cleveland. The federation has mobilized on legislation including responses to the No Child Left Behind Act and advocacy for funding linked to programs like Title I and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Coalitions with organizations such as the NAACP, ACLU, and League of Women Voters have shaped policy priorities on issues ranging from school funding to civil rights and public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Programs and Professional Development
The organization runs professional development, certification, and training programs that partner with educational institutions like Teachers College, Columbia University and policy groups such as the Economic Policy Institute. Initiatives target classroom practice, leadership development, and union organizing, drawing on research from think tanks like the Brookings Institution and collaborate with foundations including the Ford Foundation and Carnegie Corporation of New York. Programs also address career pathways intersecting with entities such as Head Start and collective initiatives in higher education involving American Association of University Professors.
Criticisms and Controversies
Critiques have come from reform advocates associated with Michelle Rhee, Teach For America, and philanthropies like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation over stances on accountability, tenure, and school choice. Political controversies have involved internal disputes during leadership transitions comparable to debates in unions such as UNITE HERE and public scrutiny fueled by media outlets including The New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Legal challenges and responses to rulings like Janus v. AFSCME sparked debates over dues, representation, and free speech rights, while union positions on charter schools, standardized testing, and collective bargaining in states including Wisconsin and Arizona have generated public debate.