Executive Compensation at the American Federation of Teachers (2023)

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is the second largest teacher’s union (although membership is not limited to teachers) with 1.8 million members (after the National Education Association) in 3,000 local affiliates in the USA. A non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c) (5), the AFT is based in Washington, DC and is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.

For the year ending June 30, 2023, AFT reported total revenue of  $211 million (mostly from membership dues) and expenses of $220 million (with the shortfall covered by the general fund). The largest expense for the organization was compensation for the 354 employees who received $64 million, which equates to an average compensation of $181,000. However, only 205 employees (58%) received more than $100,000 in compensation. The 8 most highly compensated employees were reported to be:

• $569,012:  Randi Weingarten, President
• $458,966:  Federick C Ingram
• $376,332:  Evelyn DeJesus, EVP
• $357,174:  Darrin Nedrow, Director of Organization and Field S
• $354,603:  Jessica Smith, Director, AFT’s Union Leadership Ins
• $331,292:  Michael S Powell, Asst to President for Communications
• $330,063:  Tear Jones Murphy, Chief of Staff
• $319,337:  Ann Mitchell, Asst to President for Field Coordination

3 of the 8 (38%) most highly compensated employees are male while 5 of the 8 (62%) are female. Interestingly, the organization is overseen by 45 voting members of the governing body, 42 of whom are independent; 21 of the 45 (47%) are female while 24 of the 45 (53%) are male.

The most highly compensated employee was Randy Weingarten who received $569,012 in 2023; and $4 million in compensation from 2017-2023:

Randy Weingarten:  Total Compensation 2017-2023:  $4 million

• 2023:  $569,012
• 2022:  $595,453
• 2021:  $543,562
• 2020:  $534,240
• 2019:  $564,236
• 2018:  $582,498
• 2017:  $510,398

AFT paid for first class or charter travel. Specifically, AFT allows officers (there are 45 listed on the Form 990) and vice presidents to fly first class travel when the scheduled flight time is TWO hours or longer.

AFT paid for companion travel. Specifically, an officer or vice president could bring a family member and have the family member’s ticket paid for by AFT if the two tickets together were equal to or less than a first class ticket.

AFT paid a monthly housing allowance to AFT officers.

98 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation.  The 5 most highly compensated independent contractors were reported to be:

• $1.7 million:   First Book, of Washington, DC for books
• $1.4 million:  Selendy Gay Elsberg, of NY, NY for legal services
• $1.1 million:  Strook and Strook and Lavin, of NY, NY for legal services
• $1.0 million:  TEK Systems, Inc., of Hanover, MD for IT management
• $1.0 million:  Tag1 Consulting, of St Petersburg, FL for software development

To read the IRS Form 990 (2022 for the year ending June 30, 2023), click here.