100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

WHEREAS, the American Federation of Teachers was founded in Chicago, when eight local unions formed the AFT and were granted a charter signed by AFL President Samuel Gompers on May 9, 1916. The original eight local unions were the Chicago Teachers Federation; the Chicago Federation of Men Teachers; the Chicago Federation of Women High School Teachers; the Gary, Ind., Teachers Federation; the Teachers Union of New York; the Oklahoma Teachers Federation; the Scranton, Pa. Teachers Association; and the High School Teachers Union of Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, we continue to grow—now 1.6 million members strong—with the first local chartered after the affiliation with the AFL being the African-American Teachers of the Armstrong-Dunbar High School, Local 9, in Washington, D.C., to one of our most recent charters, the United Nations Staff Union, Local 6610; and

WHEREAS, since that day in 1916, our strength has come from the diversity of our members in all constituencies and from the proud history of all our local and state affiliates; and

WHEREAS, when this convention ends today, we will embark on a two-year period leading to the centennial anniversary of this great union; and

WHEREAS, this time gives us the opportunity to celebrate our union and to educate the public, those we represent and those we serve about our union, our mission and the vital role unions play in America:

RESOLVED, that the executive council of the American Federation of Teachers appoint a special committee to plan a unionwide celebration and commemoration of our 100th anniversary on May 9, 2016; and

RESOLVED, that the 2016 AFT convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul include a unique and special celebration of this historic event.