American Federation of Teachers

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is a U.S. union affiliated with the AFL-CIO, founded in 1916 to represent school teachers. Now having over 1.4 million members, the AFT also consists of higher education faculty and staff, local, state, and federal employees, and nurses. Past members have included John Dewey, Albert Einstein, Hubert Humphrey, author Frank McCourt, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel.

Political contributions
The American Federation of Teachers gave $2,109,448 to federal candidates in the 2006 election through its two political action committees - 99% to Democrats and 1% to Republicans.

Lobbying
The American Federation of Teachers spent $422,310 for lobbying in the first half of 2007. $20,000 went to the lobbying firm Ickes & Enright Group with the remainder being spent using in-house lobbyists.

Personnel
Officers:
 * Edward J. McElroy, President, Also serves on the executive council of the AFL-CIO
 * Nat LaCour, Secretary-Treasurer, Also serves on the executive council of the AFL-CIO
 * Antonia Cortese, Executive Vice President

Contact details
555 New Jersey Avenue N.W. Washington, DC 20001 Phone: (202) 879-4400 Web: http://www.aft.org

Related SourceWatch articles

 * National Education Association
 * Barbara Bowen - vice presiden
 * 99% Spring

External resources

 * John Stauber, The Progressive Movement is a PR Front for Rich Democrats, March 15, 2013, CounterPunch.
 * AFT Political Donations Open Secrets, accessed November 2007.