A REPORT FROM THE AFT NATIONAL OFFICE ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN THE AFT

The American Federation of Teachers has moved in several areas to implement the Affirmative Action resolution adopted by the 1981 convention. The record of employment of women and minorities reflects our commitment to provide opportunities for employment and promotion for both within the constraints imposed by a tight budget.

The AFT not only hires women and minorities, but promotes them also. In the AFT's Organizing Department, hiring of women for top managerial posts has been aggressive. Four women, one of whom is black, are Field Services directors. These directors supervise national representatives on a day-to-day basis in the field and deal with organizing drives, strikes and budgets for or­ganizing campaigns.

The AFT also has one of the largest numbers of women organizers. In a report listing the lack of women in field and organizing jobs for unions, the AFT was cited as having one of the highest numbers of women in field services.

The AFT has moved in many directions to adhere to the Affirmative Action resolution adopted by delegates to the 1981 convention. Of 145 persons employed by the AFT National Organization, 58 percent are women and 25 percent are minorities. There is a total of 28 black employees, 3 Hispanic and 5 Asian employees. The administrative staff, with 52 percent women, includes 8 minorities, 3 of whom are in the managerial ranks.

In recent months, the AFT Executive Council promoted a black to the position of Field Director and another black to the position of Acting Editor of AFT's publications.

The AFT will continue to seek out and hire women and minorities as it has in the past.