Statement from Edward J. McElroy, President, American Federation of Teachers,
and Merlene Martin, President, Oregon School Employees Association, on
OSEA Affiliation with AFT
On Feb. 5, after celebrating 70 years as a successful, independent state union, the 20,000-member
Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA) overwhelmingly voted to affiliate with the American
Federation of Teachers (AFT), the largest affiliation of an independent union in AFT history.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This vote is the culmination of a decade of mutual respect and cooperation
between the AFT and OSEA. It formalizes what has always been a close relationship between our
unions, and allows us to take our partnership to a new level.
The affiliation between OSEA and the AFT will magnify the strengths of each organization.
OSEA is a powerful, effective organization whose 20,000 members will make the AFT an even stronger
union. Likewise, OSEA will benefit from the expertise, resources and political influence of its new
national union. This partnership will enhance the ability of our two unions and the Oregon AFL-CIO to
fight for our members’ rights in the workplace, and to improve the quality of services to their students
and their communities.
Working families, schools and communities will face many challenges and opportunities
forwarding the future. The AFT and OSEA look forward to meeting these challenges and taking
advantage of these opportunities together, building upon an already productive working relationship.
The AFT represents 1.4 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel;
higher education faculty and professional staff; nurses and healthcare workers; and federal, state and local government
employees. Visit the AFT Web site: www.aft.org.
OSEA represents over 20,000 educational employees working in Oregon school districts, community colleges, education
service districts, Head Start agencies, libraries, and park and recreation districts. Visit the OSEA Web site: www.osea.org.