National Affiliations
National unions provide resources and community in our organizing efforts, as well as after recognition and a first contract. Two leading national unions in higher education, the American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of University Professors, have partnered successfully in organizing efforts at multiple R1 (Highest Research Activity) and R2 (Higher Research Activity) universities, including Oregon State University, the University of Oregon, the University of Alaska, the University of Illinois at Chicago, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the University of Vermont. Other faculty unions with joint AFT-AAUP affiliation include Rutgers University and Wayne State University.
What is the American Federation of Teachers?
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is a union of professionals that champions fairness, democracy, economic opportunity, high-quality public education, healthcare, and public services for our students, their families, and our communities. We are committed to advancing these principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining, and political activism, and especially through the work our members do.
AFT has over 1.8 million members in more than 3,200 locals with 40 state federations in higher education, early childhood education, K-12 schools, healthcare and public services. AFT Higher Education represents over 230,000 higher education employees in about 320 locals, and include full-and part-time faculty, professional staff, and graduate employees. AFT is headed by an executive board elected by the membership at a biennial national convention, and the AFT Higher Education Program and Policy Council is made up of members from across the United States and represent the interests of higher education members to the larger organization. AFT New Mexico is a union of educators affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. AFT NM represents more than 23,000 public education employees in early childhood education centers, K-12 schools, colleges, and universities.
What is the American Association of University Professors?
The mission of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is to advance academic freedom and shared governance; to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education; to promote the economic security of faculty, academic professionals, graduate students, post‐doctoral fellows, and all those engaged in teaching and research in higher education; to help the higher education community organize to make our goals a reality; and to ensure higher education’s contribution to the common good. Founded in 1915, the AAUP has helped to shape American higher education by developing the standards and procedures that maintain quality in education and academic freedom in this country’s colleges and universities.
AAUP has over 50,000 members in both collective bargaining and advocacy chapters around the United States. With union chapters throughout the country, the AAUP Collective Bargaining Congress (AAUP-CBC) is a member-led organization committed to strengthening the voice of faculty. The AAUP-CBC is proud of the successful joint organizing efforts with the AFT, including the recent win at Oregon State University.