WASHINGTON—On Saturday, the executive council of the American Federation of Teachers
voted overwhelmingly to endorse Hillary Clinton
in the Democratic primary for president of the United States. The AFT
is the first national union to endorse a candidate in the 2016
Democratic presidential primary.
"In vision, in experience and in
leadership, Hillary Clinton is the champion working families need in the
White House," said AFT President Randi Weingarten. "Hillary Clinton is a
tested leader who shares our values, is supported by our members, and
is prepared for a tough fight on behalf of students, families and
communities. That fight defines her campaign and her career. In
Arkansas, Hillary fought to expand access to early childhood education
and care. As first lady, she fought for the right to affordable,
high-quality healthcare and helped win that right for our youngest
citizens. As senator, she fought for education funding and workers'
rights, and she defended public service workers who came to our nation's
defense on Sept. 11. And as secretary of state, she promoted democracy
throughout the world, lifting up the worth and dignity of all people—men
and women, gay and straight."
Weingarten continued, "Hillary
Clinton, a product of public schools herself, believes in the promise of
public education. From early childhood learning through higher
education, she sees how that promise can create real opportunity for
kids, building a much-needed bridge to the middle class. Hillary
understands that to reclaim the promise of public education,
policymakers need to work with educators and their unions. She's ready
to work with us to confront the issues facing children and their
families today, including poverty, wage stagnation, income inequality
and lack of opportunity. Hillary is the leader we need to help us
reclaim the promise of public education and, indeed, of America."
Upon
learning of the union's endorsement, Clinton said, "For nearly a
century, the American Federation of Teachers has worked to expand
opportunity for the people and communities they serve. I'm honored to
have the support of AFT's members and leaders, and proud to stand with
them to unleash the potential of every American."
Clinton
continued, "I know from my own family that teachers have the power to
change lives. We need to make sure every child has access to a quality
public education and teachers with the tools to help them succeed. Our
country's future depends on the education we give all our children — and
giving them the best means working with the teachers and school
personnel who help shape their futures each day."
As in past
elections, the AFT's 1.6 million members will be a powerful organizing
force behind our endorsed candidate. Leading up to November 2016, AFT
members are expected to make more than 1 million phone calls and knock
on more than 500,000 doors.
The AFT's endorsement comes a month after Clinton
attended an executive council meeting
in Washington, D.C. At that meeting, she said, "It is just dead wrong
to make teachers the scapegoats for all of society's problems. Where I
come from, teachers are the solution. And I strongly believe that unions
are part of the solution, too."
Bernie Sanders and Martin
O'Malley also spoke with the executive council at that meeting. All
potential and announced candidates were invited to complete a
questionnaire, and those who returned the questionnaire were invited to
meet with the council. No Republican candidates responded to the
invitation.
The AFT has conducted a long, deliberative process to
assess which candidate would best champion the issues of importance to
our members, their families and communities. Members have been engaged
online, through the "
You Decide" website, through several telephone town halls, and through multiple surveys—reaching more than 1 million members.
Additionally,
over the past few weeks, the AFT has conducted a scientific poll of our
membership on the candidates and key issues. The top issues members
raised were jobs and the economy and public education. Seventy-nine
percent of our members who vote in Democratic primaries said we should
endorse a candidate. And by more than a 3-to-1 margin, these members
said the AFT should endorse Clinton.
This week, the AFT will begin its biennial
TEACH conference,
a gathering of thousands of educators. Weingarten will address the
conference at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, with press availability to follow.
Her remarks will include information about the endorsement. For more
information on the TEACH conference, please email Laura Pometto at
lpometto@aft.org (link sends e-mail).
AFT 
Hillary Clinton 
