The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is a union of professionals that champions fairness, democracy, economic opportunity, high-quality public education, healthcare, and public services for our students, their families, and our communities. We are committed to advancing these principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining, and political activism, and especially through the work our members do.
AFT has over 1.8 million members in more than 3,200 locals with 40 state federations in higher education, early childhood education, K-12 schools, healthcare and public services. AFT Higher Education represents over 230,000 higher education employees in about 320 locals, and include full-and part-time faculty, professional staff, and graduate employees. AFT is headed by an executive board elected by the membership at a biennial national convention, and the AFT Higher Education Program and Policy Council is made up of members from across the United States and represent the interests of higher education members to the larger organization.