AFT Urges Its 1.8 Million Members and Families to Shop Local, Not at Target, for Back to School

WHEREAS, in August 2025, the AFT passed a resolution supporting the national boycott of Target stores, which was led by faith and community organizations in reaction to Target’s rollback of commitments to diversity and investment in Black-owned businesses; and

WHEREAS, in February 2026, the AFT passed a resolution urging AFT members to boycott Target stores after Target’s new CEO failed to take a stand against Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s occupation of the community in which Target is headquartered; and

WHEREAS, on March 11, members of the civil rights and faith communities announced that they had reached a partial resolution with Target on issues related to diversity and Black-owned business investment; and

WHEREAS, this resolution shows that the new leadership of Target wants to chart a new course, yet we are deeply disappointed that Target refuses to show that same openness when it comes to calling for an end to ICE’s occupation of the Twin Cities; and

WHEREAS, Target will not stand up for the community in which it is headquartered; and

WHEREAS, the conditions in the Twin Cities community are still dire and urgent; and

WHEREAS, the local economies of our cities and towns are suffering at the hands of federal policies that do not support workers and local businesses; and

WHEREAS, teachers spend, on average, $895 per year on school-related supplies alone, which totals $3.4 billion just in out-of-pocket classroom spending:

RESOLVED, that the AFT will transform our boycott by asking our 1.8 million members to shop locally for back-to-school supplies instead of at Target; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will reach out to small businesses to identify alternative retailers for back-to-school supplies; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will bring a resolution to the floor of the AFL-CIO convention in Minnesota calling on the 15 million members of the AFL-CIO unions to boycott Target stores and shop locally until this matter is resolved; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will call on parents, communities and other allies to join us in this campaign to shop local—and to not shop at Target for back-to-school and other school-related supplies—until Target is willing to stand with the Twin Cities.

Adopted March 26, 2026