The AFL-CIO filed an amicus  brief before the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the University of Michigan’s affirmative action plan on Feb. 18.  The American Federation of Teachers, which represents more than 125,000 faculty and staff at colleges and universities nationwide, worked actively with the AFL-CIO on the brief.

According to David Strom, director of the AFT legal department, the brief "demonstrates that the admissions policies at issue in this case provide college students with valuable opportunities to interact with persons from other ethnic groups and races. The result is that when these students graduate, they will function as better citizens and workers in our increasingly diverse nation."

The AFT worked on the brief after the AFT executive council passed a resolution in January expressing strong support for affirmative action as practiced in the University of Michigan's admissions procedures.

The case is scheduled to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on April 1, 2003.  [Brooke Boeglin]

[February 28, 2003]

Read the AFT resolution on Affirmative Action.