What is the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)?
The AFT pioneered the organization of professionals, and as a result of its drive for collective bargaining for teachers in the 1960s, it paved the way for the unionization of other public sector and professional employees. These groups have joined the AFT because of its democratic spirit and structure, its competence in serving their interests through collective bargaining, and its participation in the labor movement. Each AFT constituency shares common goals of professional development, empowerment at work, and building more effective institutions for the people it serves. In addition to its teacher members, the AFT represents paraprofessionals and school-related personnel, higher education faculty and staff, public employees, and nurses and other health care professionals.
