For more than eight decades, the American Federation of Teachers has supported trade unionism, public education and democracy throughout the world. We have worked with unionists in other countries to help build unions, to strengthen democracy and to improve the lives of working families.

Unions representing educators, health professionals and public service workers often find themselves in struggles with governments that abuse workers, violate human rights and deny unions the right to organize. We lend solidarity and support to union brothers and sisters who are fighting dictatorships and tyrants, whether on the left or on the right. Working with the AFL-CIO, Education International and Public Services International, the AFT maintains relationships with other unions throughout the world, and we often send letters of protest and of support to our colleagues abroad and to their governments. 

Recent AFT letters of protest and support may be found here.