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- About Us
About the AFT
Learn more about the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), which was founded in 1916 to represent the economic, social and professional interests of classroom teachers and is an affiliated international union of the AFL-CIO.
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Tips from public employees on mobilizing members
When the president of Colorado WINS learned that the president of the United States might be targeting Denver next in his anti-immigration campaign of terror, she knew how she’d begin to mobilize. One simple thing Diane Byrne does is deck out her activists in matching T-shirts. Wearing union colors promotes team spirit and builds confidence, she says. The AFT Public Employees program and policy council, meeting in New York City Feb. 5-6, abounded with tips to help locals mobilize. PPC chair Gary Feist, president of North Dakota Public Employees, recommended finding members who can tell a personal story to draw
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Smears vs. solutions
Summer is upon us, and parents, children and teachers are winding down from what has been an exhausting and fully operational school year—the first since the devastating pandemic. The long-lasting impact of COVID-19 has affected our students’ and families’ well-being and ignited the politics surrounding public schools. All signs point to the coming school year unfolding with the same sound and fury, and if extremist culture warriors have their way, being even more divisive and stressful.
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In defense of public education
Attacks on public education in America by extremists and culture-war peddling politicians have reached new heights (“lows” may be more apt), but they are not new. The difference today is that the attacks are intended not just to undermine public education but to destroy it.
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- Take Action
Take Action: Make your voice heard
Make your views known to those in Congress and state legislatures who represent you on the issues that affect working families every day. Click here to visit the AFT's Legislative Action Center.
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- Member Benefits
AFT PLUS Member Benefits
AFT PLUS is the name of the member benefit programs available to AFT members and their families. Many of the programs are provided through Union Privilege, the benefit arm of the AFL-CIO; others are unique to AFT and are coordinated directly through AFT PLUS. Explore the site and learn more about the savings and services available to you as a union member. Click here to learn more about AFT PLUS Member Benefits.
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History of the AFT
Learn the history of the AFT, including the union's founding in Chicago in 1916, its affiliation with the AFL-CIO, its battles for workers and human rights and its continued work to uphold the proud traditions on which the union was created.
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AFT Mission Statement
The mission of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, is to improve the lives of our members and their families, to give voice to their legitimate professional, economic and social aspirations, to strengthen the institutions in which we work, to improve the quality of the services we provide, to bring together all members to assist and support one another and to promote democracy, human rights and freedom in our union, in our nation and throughout the world. --From the Futures II report adopted at the AFT Convention, July 5, 2000.
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All the resources you need on immigration and ICE
Federal immigration actions are rapidly expanding, with deadly consequences. The killings of poet Renee Nicole Good and nurse Alex Pretti by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis have brought intense focus on the use of excessive force. An AFT webinar, co-hosted by AFT President Randi Weingarten and AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang on Jan. 28, featured experts on immigration and the law. It highlighted AFT resources and showcased how our locals are showing up to minimize fear and trauma.
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AFT-Wisconsin Spring 2022 Endorsements
AFT-Wisconsin COPE has endorsed the following candidates for the spring 2022 election happening on April 5, 2022. Now is the time to get involved. Let us know how you'd like to get more involved!
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Wisconsin Heights teacher attends White House Teacher Appreciation Day
Kathy Evert, an elementary school teacher in the Wisconsin Heights district, was one of a group of teachers from across the United States invited to participate in President Barack Obama’s celebration of National Teacher Appreciation Day at the White House. Evert, the co-president of AFT local 1917, represented the AFT at the May 3 rd event honoring the national Teacher of the Year Jahana Hayes.
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Whitnall teachers: lowering class sizes and improving teacher retention
As the school year began, members of the Whitnall Area Federation of Teachers were discussing two disturbing trends. Class sizes had started high and were continuing to grow as the district accepted many open enrollment students. At the same time, many experienced teachers were either finding jobs elsewhere or considering leaving because of the district’s extremely slow progress in implementing a compensation plan. With many classes exceeding 30 students and as they faced the loss of highly qualified teachers, WAFT members were concerned about the impact on their working conditions and student learning conditions.
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AFT-Wisconsin teacher honored at White House for Teacher Appreciation Day
Kathy Evert, a fourth grade teacher at Mazomanie Elementary in the Wisconsin Heights School District, is one of a group of teachers from around the country invited to the White House for President Barack Obama’s celebration of Teacher Appreciation Day on Tuesday, May 3. At the event, according to the White House, President Obama will recognize the National Teacher of the Year as well as other outstanding educators from across America.
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Press release on no confidence vote on Ray Cross, UW Board of Regents
Following the introduction of a UW-Madison faculty senate resolution of no confidence in UW System President Ray Cross and the Board of Regents, faculty around the UW System were vocal in their call for accountability at the top of the System.
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Eau Claire support staff mobilize for special ed assistant reclass
Public school support staff perform work that keeps their schools running, work that is essential to the educational mission of Wisconsin’s public school system. Unfortunately, this work is too often undervalued by school district administrations, who frequently ignore pressing issues that make it hard to recruit and retain the best school staff. So, after five years of pay freezes, reduced take-home pay, and declining benefits, members of AFT local 4018, the Eau Claire Schools Classified Staff Federation, decided they’d had enough, and made plans to take their issues directly to the school board.
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High school and college labor history contests
The Wisconsin Labor History Society sponsors two annual competitions for Wisconsin students. Wisconsin high school students in grades 9-12 are invited to participate in an essay contest on the theme of the importance of unions to their families and communities, with cash prizes of up to $300. College students (two- or four-year) and graduate students can participate in a research paper competition, with a $500 prize available at the college level and $1000 at the graduate level.
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Release: The Wisconsin Idea in Crisis
Madison, WI: With Wisconsin at the center of a national debate over tenure, academic freedom, and funding for public higher education, members of the AFT-Wisconsin Higher Education Council announced a series of events to be held across the UW System in November examining the theme of “The Wisconsin Idea in Crisis.” “The Wisconsin Idea is a simple one,” said Richard Leson, a UW-Milwaukee associate professor of art history and the president of AFT local 3535, The Association of UW Professionals. “It’s the idea that the University of Wisconsin System should improve the lives of all Wisconsinites—through high quality education, research
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Release: AFT-Wisconsin delegates demand UW System President Ray Cross resign
Madison, WI: Delegates to AFT-Wisconsin’s recent state convention voted to demand UW System President Ray Cross resign, AFT-Wisconsin President Kim Kohlhaas announced today. “Faculty, staff, and graduate employee members of AFT-Wisconsin have been fighting tirelessly to protect the quality of education and research in the UW System in the face of the Republican assault on higher education,” said Kohlhaas, a teacher in the Superior School District. “But when it comes to crucial issues like academic freedom, due process, shared governance, and state funding, President Cross hasn’t been the advocate that the UW System’s students need. The Wisconsin Idea is under
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UW-Stevens Point instructor: guns on campus "a catastrophically bad idea"
Guest post by Nancy Shefferly, UW-Stevens Point Biology Instructor and member of the UW-Stevens Point Academic Representation Council, AFT local 6505 As an educator, I can only view the prospect of allowing firearms on a college campus as a catastrophically bad idea.
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