Understanding the American Federation of Teachers [AFT]: Legal Insights and Impact
Definition & meaning
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is a prominent labor union in the United States, founded in 1916. It advocates for the rights and interests of its members, which include educators in higher education, nurses in private hospitals, public employees, school librarians, and educational paraprofessionals. Unlike professional associations, the AFT operates as a labor union, focusing on collective bargaining to secure fair wages, manageable workloads, and adequate funding for public education. The AFT also conducts research on educational issues and lobbies for legislation that supports educational initiatives.
Legal use & context
The AFT plays a significant role in labor law and education policy. It is involved in collective bargaining agreements that define the terms of employment for educators and related professionals. This includes negotiations on salaries, benefits, and working conditions. Users can manage some aspects of these agreements through legal forms and templates provided by services like US Legal Forms, particularly when drafting contracts or grievance procedures.
Real-world examples
Here are a couple of examples of abatement:
One example of the AFT's work includes negotiating a new contract for teachers in a public school district, which resulted in a 10 percent salary increase and improved health benefits. Another example is the AFT's involvement in advocating for legislation that increases funding for public education at the state level (hypothetical example).