The American Federation of Teachers 88th National Convention centered not on workplace conditions or the resolution of deep issues rampant throughout the nations classrooms but underscored the unions longstanding devotion to progressive politics, culminating in a resounding endorsement of presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
The convention, which hosts AFT delegates from across the nation to vote on resolutions which guide the unions internal operations for the year ahead, was markedly partisan as the infamously progressive union preps its members for election season.
Resolutions passed by this years delegates covered a swath of hot button political issues:
The AFT will recommit resources, for example, to support LGBTQIA+ affirming and inclusive school environments and curriculum, according to a resolution regarding physical and psychological violence against queer youth.
Another resolution , Opposing the Overreach of the U.S. Supreme Court, details the unions commitment to reverse the decisions of those Justices AFT accuses of eliminating guarantees of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the American people.
According to a third , the basic institutions and principles of U.S. democracyare under attack by Donald Trump and the ultra-right MAGA faction. In addition to democracy, AFT writes, Republicans have attacked public education through voucher schemes, reproductive freedom through draconian anti-abortion laws, and the very humanity of marginalized and stigmatized communities.
But the key resolution passed by the AFT was the unions Endorsement of Kamala Harris for President.
Kamala Harris has a clear record under the Biden-Harris administration to compare with Donald Trumps, offering voters a stark choice, AFT explained. The union pledges to mobilize its members in support of Harriss presidential campaign, plus join the rest of Big Labor in its collective effort to elect Kamala Harris.
Amid talk of a variety of progressive topics, AFTs support for Harris was constant.
Before delegates arrived in Houston, the unions executive council preemptively pushed a unanimous call on AFT members to ratify its endorsement of Harris for the American presidency.
AFT President Randi Weingartens keynote address amplified strong support for Harris, through which progress is possible. But so is the eradication of the rights and progress we hold dear, continued Weingarten, through former President Donald Trump, who poses an existential threat to democracy and freedom.
Throughout the convention, among the speakers who addressed the union in support of Harris included United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Harris, whose address was the conventions grand finale, again emphasized the responsibility of educators to vote in support of her dedication to freedom, compassion, and rule of law, in opposition to Right-wing chaos, fear, and hate.
A vote against her campaign, Harris emphasized, would return America to a dark past.
AFTs longstanding devotion to progressive causes and candidates is nothing new. For years, the union has transferred millions directly from the pockets of dues-paying teachers to its Democratic friends.
Though American teachers continue to flee AFT in search of refuge from the progressive agenda included in membership, this years convention emphasizes that the unions loyalty to the left-wing will not fade anytime soon.
According to a Pew Research survey of over 2,500 public K-12 school teachers, a significant percentage of teachers presumably disagree with their unions endorsement. The AFT, however, couldnt care less.
For the AFT, it seems as though disregarding the inconvenient interests of teachers unsupportive of union ideology is a worthy sacrifice in pursuit of the political agenda that continues to dominate Big Labors priorities across the board.
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Aaron Withe is Chief Executive Officer of the Freedom Foundation.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Daily Wire.
