AFT and Professional Educators of North Carolina Join Forces in Historic Affiliation Agreement

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—AFT President Randi Weingarten and Professional Educators of North Carolina President Joanna Loftis officially signed an affiliation agreement today, in a powerful sign Tar Heel educators understand the worth of their labor and want to organize to protect it.

Established in 1979 as an alternative professional association, PENC has represented and protected educators in a state with long-standing anti-union laws that make it difficult to advance the lives of educators and the children they teach. Its 1,700 members will now be organized under the banner of the American Federation of Professional Educators of North Carolina.

AFPENC and the AFT are laser-focused on the recruitment, training and retention of quality educators and are committed to helping the next generation of students thrive, while ensuring all members have dignity and a voice at work.

“These North Carolina teachers have been organizing for years to strengthen public education for their students and to secure the conditions, voice and salaries they needed for themselves, and I am so proud to welcome them to the 1.8 million-strong AFT family,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “Thanks to Joanna’s inspiring leadership and the wisdom of PENC’s executive board, we are uniting because we know that we can achieve far more together than we ever can alone. As educators continue to confront significant headwinds both federally and in North Carolina, we need to rely on each other’s expertise and humanity to create safe and welcoming public schools where kids can have access to the engaging and relevant curriculum they need to pave a pathway to career, college and life.”

“With the strength of the AFT behind us, we are embracing a larger movement that champions fairness, democracy, opportunity and high-quality public education for all,” said PENC President Joanna Loftis. “Together, we will work with every stakeholder who shares our belief that public education is the foundation of a strong and thriving North Carolina. We are proud to establish this AFT affiliate in our state and look forward to building a stronger voice for educators across North Carolina.”