Description: The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is a national labor union representing public school teachers, paraprofessionals, higher education faculty and staff, nurses and other public employees. The organization advocates for strong public education, equitable funding, workers’ rights, safe schools, student supports and broader social and economic justice, using collective bargaining, organizing, research and political advocacy to advance those goals. Type: National labor union / trade union (nonprofit labor organization) Policies: K–12 and higher education funding and policy, teacher and school staff compensation and benefits, collective bargaining and labor law, school safety and student supports, early childhood education, public healthcare and retirement security, student loan relief and higher education affordability, voting rights and civil rights issues that affect educators and students Funding: Primarily member dues and fees, supplemented by donations, grants and contributions to affiliated political and advocacy arms (including PAC activity) Affiliates: AFL-CIO; national and state AFT affiliates including the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU); AFT President Randi Weingarten; AFT Foundation and AFT political committees
