American Federation of Teachers

In 1916, a handful of teachers met in the basement of a teacher's home in Winnetka, Ill. What brought them together was the belief that they needed a new national organization that would be committed to their professional interests, would benefit the people they served, and would work to create strong local unions affiliated with the labor movement. The organization they forged is the American Federation of Teachers. From this foundation, the AFT has grown into a trade union representing workers in education, health care, and public service.

Today, the AFT continues to be known for its democratic ideals and its cutting-edge work on behalf of its members and the public they serve. And because the AFT has more than 1.2 million members nationwide, we exert a strong influence on standards and professional practices in our members' workplaces.