Join the AFT - Associate Membership

Whether you work in a preK-12 school system, an early childhood center, a college or university system, a local, state or federal government office, or a healthcare facility, then the AFT is the place for you. We are not a union for teachers only.

We represent over 1.7 million members, including: pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; and nurses and other healthcare professionals. In addition, the AFT represents approximately 80,000 early childhood educators and nearly 250,000 retiree members.

Is there an AFT local in your worksite that you are eligible to join?

Are you a student teacher? Student teachers are eligible for a special Student Teacher Associate Membership at a very low rate. Click here to find out more.

Which of the following do you currently work as?

Which of the following best describes you?

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AFT Member Site

You answered "YES" to having a local in your area that you’re eligible to join. If there's an AFT affiliate in your worksite and you'd like to join, simply fill out this contact form and we will be in touch with you soon.

If you DON'T have an AFT local that you're eligible to join, please return to the previous question and be sure to answer “NO” when asked if you have an AFT local in your worksite.

If you still need assistance, please enter your contact information below, along with your question or issue and someone will be in touch with you soon.

Arizona

We’re Arizona for Public Education.

We’re your neighbors—parents, grandparents, teachers and so many others who are focused on making sure that our state’s public schools give Arizona children the start they need to succeed. Last spring, Arizonans joined together—teachers, parents, local school boards—and demanded action by our state officials. They responded with some long-overdue resources, but the budget they approved was only a down-payment on what’s needed.

We know there is much more to do. And we know we can't do it alone.

If you are ready to lend your voice to the chorus demanding more for our schools and a brighter future for our children, then join today.

Louisiana

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Texas

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West Virginia

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FACULTY ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

The American Federation of Teacher (AFT) is a union dedicated to improving the work-life of the hundreds of thousands of adjunct professors teaching in colleges and universities across the country. We are organizing to build collective bargaining power, community and resources for a vital yet underrepresented majority of university faculties. Education is a public good, so we need to provide our students with a secure, respected faculty. Together, we can achieve what we cannot as individuals. Join us.

More information about the AFT

AFT is the largest higher education union in the country, representing over 130,000 higher education faculty, professional staff and graduate employees. The AFT higher education department mission is to help our affiliates and their members prosper in the face of political, economic and technological forces challenging the most basic assumptions about the union's role on campus.

For $132 a year ($11/month), your AFT membership entitles you to $1,000,000 in occupational liability insurance, legal defense for liability incurred on the job, plus a host of exclusive member benefits including useful travel and insurance discounts that make it easier to advance your career and enjoy your free time. Join today.

More information about joining a union

Here's a helpful FAQ, assembled by adjuncts in Philadelphia, but applicable to most situations around the country.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

The AFT is the place for you. As a National Associate Member of the AFT you join forces with 1.7 million members, including: pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; and nurses and other healthcare professionals. In addition, the AFT represents approximately 80,000 early childhood educators and nearly 250,000 retiree members.

The American Federation of Teachers is a union of professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and 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.

For $132 a year ($11/month), your AFT membership entitles you to $1,000,000 in occupational liability insurance, legal defense for liability incurred on the job, and a host of exclusive member benefits including useful travel and insurance discounts that make it easier to advance your career and enjoy your free time.

If you prefer to forgo the occupational liability insurance, you can still join AFT as an Associate Member. For $70 a year ($5.83/month), your AFT membership entitles you to a host of exclusive member benefits including useful travel and insurance discounts that make it easier to advance your career and enjoy your free time.

First, choose whether you'd like your membership to include additional occupational liability insurance:
With additional occupational liability insurance ($11/month = $132/year)

To proceed, please read and confirm by checking the checkbox below

I affirm that my employer has an occupational liability policy that applies to my worksite. I understand that AFT Occupational Liability Insurance is a secondary policy, and that the employer’s policy is the primary policy for occupational liability claims.
Without additional occupational liability insurance ($5.83/month = $70/year)

General Associate Membership

The AFT is the place for you. As a General Associate Member of the AFT you join forces with 1.7 million members, including: pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; and nurses and other healthcare professionals. In addition, the AFT represents approximately 80,000 early childhood educators and nearly 250,000 retiree members.

The American Federation of Teachers is a union of professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and 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.

For $70 a year ($5.83/month), your AFT membership entitles you to a host of exclusive member benefits including useful travel and insurance discounts that make it easier to advance your career and enjoy your free time. Join today.