The Mississippi Alliance of Teachers (AFT-Mississippi) has a rich history of advocating for educators and improving public education in the state. The first AFT local in Mississippi, Pascagoula Local 2419, was chartered in April 1973, marking the beginning of the organization's presence. The state organization followed in February 1975, with Bettye Nelson serving as the first President.
The early years were characterized by secret meetings, struggles, and great courage as teachers sought to improve education and teaching conditions. A significant turning point occurred when the 1974 legislature failed to approve a teacher pay raise, leading to widespread frustration with the long-established Mississippi Education Association (MEA) and Mississippi Teacher Association (NEA). This inaction ignited teacher unrest, and AFT emerged as a leading force, organizing the first teacher walkout, the first teacher march on Jackson, and the first call for a special session on education in April 1974. These bold actions directly led to the largest pay raise for teachers in Mississippi history to that date.
AFT's impact extended beyond salary increases. The organization was the first to advocate for numerous now-common benefits such as sick leave, personal leave, duty-free lunches, and reduced teacher-pupil ratios. MAFT (Mississippi AFT) also spearheaded the fight for the equalization of property taxes, filing a lawsuit in 1975 to enforce the state's constitutional mandate. Moreover, MAFT has consistently championed higher standards and challenged initiatives it deemed detrimental to education, such as leading the investigation into the State Department of Education Accountability Instructional Management (AIM) Program and opposing the School Employment Procedures ACT (SEPA). Notably, when the implementation of the Mississippi Teacher Assessment Instruments (MTAI) presented challenges, MAFT took the lead in training teachers across the state, demonstrating its commitment to its members' success.
(11/09/2000 from Mississippi AFT)
AFT-Mississippi (the state federation's current name) is currently under reorganization so that its goals and activities are fully aligned with the mission of the AFT.
