About American Federation of Teachers

The **American Federation of Teachers (AFT)** is a prominent labor union in the United States, founded in Chicago in 1916 by eight local unions, including the Chicago Teachers Federation and the Teachers Union of New York[1][3]. The AFT was chartered by the American Federation of Labor (AFL) with the support of President Samuel Gompers[3]. Initially, the union focused on improving teachers' working conditions and advocating for tenure laws and academic freedom[1]. **Key Achievements:** - **Civil Rights Advocacy:** The AFT was one of the first unions to support equal pay for African-American teachers and demanded equal educational opportunities for African-American children[4]. - **Collective Bargaining:** By the late 1940s, the AFT began to move toward collective bargaining, which became a cornerstone of its policy by the 1970s[4]. - **Desegregation:** In 1951, the AFT stopped chartering segregated locals, and in 1957, it expelled locals that refused to desegregate[4]. **Current Status:** Today, the AFT is the second-largest teacher's union in the U.S., representing over 1.8 million members across more than 3,000 local affiliates[6]. The union encompasses a broad range of professionals, including pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals, higher education faculty, government employees, and healthcare professionals[6]. **Notable Aspects:** - **Diverse Membership:** The AFT's strength lies in its diverse membership, with notable past members including John Dewey and Albert Einstein[6]. - **Technological Initiatives:** The AFT has invested in digital platforms like Share My Lesson, a curriculum-sharing website developed in collaboration with TES Connect[4]. - **Active Policy Engagement:** The AFT continues to advocate for educational reforms and workers' rights, making it a significant player in U

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