COALITION FOR POLITICAL ACTION

WHEREAS, the solution of educational ills must be accompanied by an end to poverty and discrimination; and

WHEREAS, needed social and educational change can best be brought about through the political process; and

WHEREAS, legislators and public officials at every level of government have cut school budgets and have attacked hard-earned teacher rights and benefits; and

WHEREAS, legislative changes must be made in structure and source of education funding in the direction of massive federal aid:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers intensify its legislative and political action at the national, state, and local levels, engaging in direct electoral action, as well as lobbying; and

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers and its locals work closely with AFL-CIO COPE and the rest of the labor movement, and with the community and groups such as NAACP and the A. Philip Randolph Institute, to build and strengthen a majority coalition of progressive forces for social change through the democratic political process.