Teachers' unions have proven to be effective instruments for combating child labor because of their ability to influence children to remain in school. For example, by providing clean educational environments, libraries, literacy programs for parents, vision testing and glasses, and after-school programs that emphasize the importance of education and citizenship, Education International has reduced dropout rates in Morocco by as much as 91 percent over a three-year period. Similarly, in Indonesia, the International Labour Organization and Indonesian Teachers Union are working together to implement a program in East, Central, and West Java that will train teachers to understand child workers and to persuade parents to send their children to school. The AFT is a strong supporter of all such union efforts that seek to prevent children from leaving school in order to enter the labor force.

The AFT also encourages its members and other concerned individuals to become personally involved in the struggle against child labor.

The first step of this process is education. Educating oneself about the issues surrounding child labor is extremely important, as knowledge is the most valuable tool for any advocate. The AFT also recommends that educators spend as much time discussing the topic of child labor with their students as curricula permit.

Becoming an educated consumer is another significant part of the fight against child labor. Refusing to buy goods produced by children limits the demand for their labor. The AFT is currently suggesting that concerned individuals make special efforts to avoid products made with cotton from Uzbekistan.

Writing letters to elected representatives asking them to support legislation that takes a stand against child labor is another good course of action. The AFT hopes that its members will be among the many people who contact their senators to request their support for the resolution introduced by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) that calls upon the government of Uzbekistan to abide by its own laws and the international standards that prohibit forced and child labor.

Finally, disseminating information about child labor to the general public can have an immense effect. Talking with family and friends, distributing posters and pamphlets, circulating petitions, and writing to local newspapers all help to increase public knowledge about the horrors of child labor.