American Federation of Teachers urges members to support Biden, Sanders, Warren

[Uncle Joe]

The 1.7 million member American Federation of Teachers union announced Thursday that it would encourage its local and state affiliates to back or endorse the presidential bids of former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders or Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

The move was a pointed rebuke of former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, the day after Bloomberg was widely panned for his first appearance on the debate stage with other Democratic contenders. Bloomberg is a strong supporter of charter schools, which have come under attack by teachers unions for taking funds away from traditional public schools.

The announcement is not the union's coveted presidential endorsement, but it marks a first step toward that endorsement at a later date. It followed a telephone town hall meeting with thousands of AFT members and leaders who have been engaged in the union’s 2020 process.

AFT President Randi Weingarten said during the call that the AFT executive council, at this week’s meeting, voted to step up member engagement in the election, according to the union. The council encouraged “locals and state affiliates to support, be actively involved with, or endorse” the three candidates ahead of the selection of more than 60 percent of the delegates by the end of March.

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https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/20/american-federation-teachers-biden-sanders-warren-116550