American Federation of Teachers (AFT)

555 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 879 4400
www.aft.org

President - Randi Weingarten
Secretary-Treasurer - Antonia Cortese

Founded in 1916, AFT represents more than 800,000 members. AFT members are teachers who work as public and private pre K-12 educators, school-related personnel, and higher education faculty and professionals. The union also represents nurses and other health care professionals, as well as state and local government employees. Many AFT members work in the nation's largest cities, including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., Miami, Boston, Cleveland and St. Louis.

With 2900 chartered local unions, AFT administers more than 150 contracts for its members. In addition to advocating for improved pay and benefits for its members, the AFT and its locals are also concerned about the quality of services members provide. In recent years, the union has focused increased attention on professional development and other training opportunities for members, as well as labor-management partnerships that seek to improve schools and other public services.