• The 1.7 million member American Federation of Teachers (AFT) includes  healthcare, K-12, higher education, and public employees.

    • AFT Nurses and Health Professionals = AFT’s healthcare division

      • It is one of  the largest and fastest growing healthcare unions in the US

      • Membership includes 200,000 healthcare employees representing a wide category of professions including attending, fellow, and resident physicians, PAs, NPs, CRNAs, RNs, Nurse Midwives, Respiratory Therapists, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and many more.

    • New York’s Stony Brook Hospital

      • A seven-step pay scale that ranges from $67,833 to $97,127

      • $2,500 resident stipend

      • $3,026 location stipend

    • The New York State/United University Professions

      • Joint Labor Management Committee

      • Certification and Licensure Exam Fee Reimbursement Program

        • Reimburses the cost of examinations for first-time certification and licensure.

        • Enables employees to improve job-related skills in their profession and gain the knowledge and skills necessary for promotional opportunities and career mobility within the State University of New York (SUNY).

      • The Individual Development Awards Program

        • This award reimburses conferences and exam prep courses up to $2,000.

    • In 2023, AFT organized close to 8,300 new members in the healthcare field.

    • University of Vermont Medical Center

      • Ancillary staff (e.g., nurse aides) and technicians (e.g., EMTs)  totaling 2,200 workers.

      • The most significant single NLRB election victory in 2023.

    • Other recent victories include the organization of: 

      • 110 Residents at Wayne State University 

      • 910 diagnostic imaging technicians at Michigan Medicine

      • 414 RNs, professionals, and technicians at The University of New Mexico’s  Sandavol Regional Medical Center. 

      • 360 RNs at Legacy Mount Hood, Oregon. 

      • 180 home health and hospice professionals at Providence in Portland,  Oregon. 

      • 62 Physicians, NPs, and nurse midwives at Providence Women’s Clinic in  Portland, Oregon. 

      • 25 Physicians, NPs, and PAs at Providence Medford, Oregon. 

      • 260 Residents at Western Michigan University organized and won an election on April 21st, 2024.

      • 1020 Residents filed for an election at Detroit Medical Center and are awaiting an election order from NLRB. 

    • Power confers the ability to win gains.

    • For unions, power comes from an active and involved membership, outspoken policy advocacy, strong community involvement, and comprehensive political and legislative action. That means:

      • Support from members throughout Maryland and the U.S.

      • Accessible resources as needed

      • Community and political relationships

    • When our residents and fellows employed by UMMC advocate for enhancing patient care and gaining the rights and benefits we deserve, all of AFT is behind us.

Most know the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) as an education union, but today the AFT is the nation’s fastest-growing healthcare union…and we’re unionized under them. In the past 10 years, nearly 100,000 health professionals across the nation have joined our union, with thousands organizing each year. In 2023, AFT organized close to 8,300 new members in the healthcare field.

AFT FAQs