Shanker, Albert (1928-1997), was president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) from 1974 until his death. He became one of the nation’s most influential educational leaders.
In 1964, Shanker was elected president of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), a New York City union. Under his leadership, the UFT conducted strikes against the city in 1967, 1968, and 1975. These strikes gained higher pay, better working conditions, and job security for teachers. Shanker served as vice president of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) from 1973 until his death.
Shanker was born on Sept. 14, 1928, in New York City. He graduated from the University of Illinois, earned a master’s degree from Columbia University, and then taught elementary school mathematics. He began to work full-time in the teachers’ union movement in 1959. He died on Feb. 22, 1997.
