The
American Federation of Teachers (
AFT) is an American
labor union that primarily represents teachers. The union was founded in
Chicago in 1916. A precursor to the group, the
American Federation of Teachers and Students, was founded in 1900. Approximately 60% of AFT's membership works directly in education, with the remainder of the union's membership composed of
paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; local, state and federal employees; higher education faculty and staff, and nurses and other
healthcare professionals. The AFT's affiliations include the
trade union federation since its founding, the old
American Federation of Labor until 1955, and the
AFL-CIO.