AFT Ohio Federation of Teachers Records

Accession Number: 
LR001442
Use restriction: 
Access to materials dated after 2005 requires permission of the AFT Archivist.
Extent: 
47.5 linear feet (13 MB, 41 SB)

The Ohio Federation of Teachers is a state affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers and represents primary and secondary school teachers, college and university professors, adjuncts, graduate and student workers, and support staff. The AFT established the Ohio State Federation of Teachers as their first experimental state federation in 1933, which was later officially chartered in 1938. Many locals did not affiliate with the state organization until 1968 when the AFT began to require them to do so. It was not until the 1970s that OFT locals gained collective bargaining rights. Throughout its history, OFT has used collective bargaining, strikes, lobbying and testimony on legislation, and other efforts meet its goals. The OFT and its local affiliates have developed ways to assist teachers and improve retention that have been models for other states, particularly the Toledo Plan, Career in Teaching, and Peer Assistance and Review programs. Other issues the OFT addresses are teacher health and retirement benefits, pay, tenure, curriculum, school budget problems, and charter schools

Part I of this collection contains general office files, correspondence, and minutes as well as conference materials. Subjects include the federation's activities with improving membership and public schools, professional and educational programs. There is information dealing with the Ohio politics and communication with Ohio locals.

Part II contains documents related to the union’s activities and initiatives for educator and student rights and improving education systems. In particular, information on programs for peer review and career development are included. Material types include correspondence, reports, minutes, convention and conference proceedings, constitutions, publications, legislation, newsletters, press releases, speech and testimony transcripts, pamphlets, and photographs. Additional subjects include organizing, bargaining, legislation and court cases, and conflicts and collaborations with the National Education Associations Ohio charter, the OEA.

Date: 
1938-2010, bulk 1972-2008
Attachment(click to download)
LR001442.pdfLR001442_guide.pdf187 KB