American Federation of Teachers Celebrates International Women’s Day

WASHINGTON—AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement in honor of International Women’s Day on March 8:

“We honor the grit, dedication and perseverance of women every day, but today especially, because women’s voices around the world are speaking louder than ever. The past year saw an unprecedented global movement for women’s rights, equality and justice.

“Women, through their unions, the #MeToo movement, the women’s marches and so much more, are demonstrating that collective action makes possible what is impossible for women acting alone.

“Yet so much more needs to be done. Women still lack opportunities in terms of education, wages, healthcare and safety. Today, we honor our progress, and we commit to keep fighting.

“This year’s International Women’s Day theme is ‘Time Is Now: Rural and Urban Activists Transforming Women’s Lives.’ We have seen this activism firsthand, from educators in West Virginia, to school nurses in Montana, to graduate students at the University of Illinois. Activism isn’t new for women, but on the heels of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements tackling sexual harassment, equal pay and women’s political representation, we hope the chorus resonates with an even broader audience.

“As a union representing female educators, nurses and other professionals, we’re proud to join in the IWD celebrations. The AFT’s ShareMyLesson.com, a free lesson plan and classroom resource sharing site, has a women’s issues collection for educators, with a #MeToo resource collection on combating harassment and creating inclusive classrooms.”