American Federation of Teachers (AFT)

What they ask for — in their own terms

AI's impact on the workplace should be a mandatory subject of collective bargaining, with contract language preventing worker displacement and a union seat at the table during development, procurement and implementation.

What they do

2024 AI resolution; the 'Commonsense Guardrails for Using Advanced Technology in Schools' report; professional development and e-learning on AI; supports members bargaining AI clauses; calls for regulation on privacy, bias, misinformation and deepfakes and for respect for intellectual property.

What a newcomer can do

If you are an AFT member, propose AI language for your next contract using the resolution and guardrails report as the basis, and raise it with your local's bargaining team this week.

Worth knowing

AFT's stance is 'responsible and principled development and use' — it is not anti-AI and has partnered with AI companies on teacher training, which some members object to. The bargaining route is the genuinely powerful one; the policy statements are not binding on employers by themselves.

Tips

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Where they work

United States.

Size

Large national union (about 1.8 million members) covering teachers, higher education and healthcare staff.

Spending

Membership funded.