AFT President Randi Weingarten Rebukes Freedom Foundation's False Claims

Union Leader Criticizes Report from Conservative Group

WASHINGTON—Randi Weingarten, the President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), addressed inaccuracies in a recent report from the Freedom Foundation, a group known for its opposition to teachers and unions.

According to Weingarten, the Freedom Foundation has long been funded by undisclosed billionaire donors with the aim of undermining workers' rights. "These extremists, funded by undisclosed and unaccountable billionaires, have one mission—to silence the voice of workers," she stated.

The report, which was released today, purportedly analyzes union expenses but has been labeled as erroneous by Weingarten. She pointed out that the report inaccurately links legal fees for a 2024 court case in New Hampshire to her book, Why Fascists Fear Teachers, which was published last year. "They flagrantly misrepresent the duties of a communications consultant for the union," Weingarten added. She also clarified that all proceeds from the book are shared equally with the AFT.

Weingarten criticized the Freedom Foundation for what she described as a "fact-free fishing expedition" supported by the New York Post, a publication she identified as another anti-union entity. She emphasized the need for continued advocacy for educators, public education, and democracy.

“Educators need people making the public case for them and for the essential work public schools do to prepare our students for their lives and the nation they will inherit," she said. "This group trashes those values every day—and then attacks us for fighting back."

The AFT, which Weingarten leads, represents 1.8 million individuals including pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals, higher education faculty, government employees, nurses, and early childhood educators.

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