AFT-Speeches

Selden explains the importance of the American Federation of Teachers belonging to the AFL-CIO. He says that the common interests of employees are shared by the AFL-CIO and that by partnering with them the AFT can accomplish anything that an unaffiliated union can accomplish only better.

In this address to the Kenosha Teachers Union, Cogen describes the qualities of a dedicated teacher; angry, militant unionist, and teachers who demand obtaining a professional status. He references the AFT cooperative organizational program "Co-Org" and the importance of organizing and collective bargaining.

In this speech, Selden reflects on the 1965-67 collective bargaining contract between the New York City Board of Education and the New York Federation of Teachers. He boasts that a long history of strikes, protests, picketing and mass demonstrations forced the board of education to sign the contract, thus giving more power to teachers across the country.

In this speech, Cogen explains how collective bargaining is raising the economic, as well as the professional status of the teacher and is thereby shifting the focus in education back to the children in the classroom.

In this speech to the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, Cogen welcomes them to the AFT and tells them they must fight to form a strong union. He states that the AFT regards Louisiana as their "prime hope for unionism below the Mason-Dixon line."