Description: The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is a national labor union founded in 1916 that represents teachers, paraprofessionals, school support staff, higher education faculty and staff, nurses and other public employees; it advocates for strong public education, collective bargaining, professional standards for educators, and broader social and economic justice for students and workers. Type: Labor union (national teachers' union affiliated with the AFL-CIO) Policies: Advocates for increased public education funding, smaller class sizes and special education resources, teacher pay and benefits, collective bargaining and labor rights, school safety and public health measures, opposition to privatization and voucher programs, support for early childhood and higher education investment, student debt relief where relevant, and civil rights and immigrant protections that affect members and students. Funding: Primarily funded by member dues, supplemented by investment income, grants and donations, and political activity funded through affiliated political committees and PACs. Affiliates: Affiliated with the AFL-CIO and a network of state and local AFT federations and local unions such as the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and major locals including the Chicago Teachers Union; notable leaders have included Randi Weingarten and Albert Shanker.
