Former AFT President Sandra Feldman Dies at Age 65
Former AFT President Sandra Feldman died peacefully at home on Sunday, September 18, 2005, following a long battle with breast cancer. Sandra Feldman rose from her position as a second-grade elementary school teacher in New York City to president of the 1.3 million member American Federation of Teachers. She was a national labor leader and served as a member of the Executive Council and the Executive Committee of the AFL-CIO. Her career in education grew out of her early activity in the civil rights movement. An advocate for civil rights and social justice, she was an activist in the Freedom Rides and the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. She was arrested twice during the Freedom Rides. Feldman went from teacher to union activist in New York City when she led the teachers at her elementary school in organizing a union and in 1986, she became president of the AFT's largest affiliate, New York City's United Federation of Teachers. She succeeded Albert Shanker as president of the AFT in 1997, retiring in 2004 for health reasons. There will not be a public funeral, but the AFT will have a public memorial at a later time. She is survived by her husband Arthur Barnes. Notes of condolence may be sent to him in care of the President's office at the AFT, 555 New Jersey, N.W., Washington DC, 20001.
Former AFT President Sandra Feldman died peacefully at home on Sunday, September 18, 2005, following a long battle with breast cancer. Sandra Feldman rose from her position as a second-grade elementary school teacher in New York City to president of the 1.3 million member American Federation of Teachers. She was a national labor leader and served as a member of the Executive Council and the Executive Committee of the AFL-CIO. Her career in education grew out of her early activity in the civil rights movement. An advocate for civil rights and social justice, she was an activist in the Freedom Rides and the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. She was arrested twice during the Freedom Rides. Feldman went from teacher to union activist in New York City when she led the teachers at her elementary school in organizing a union and in 1986, she became president of the AFT's largest affiliate, New York City's United Federation of Teachers. She succeeded Albert Shanker as president of the AFT in 1997, retiring in 2004 for health reasons. There will not be a public funeral, but the AFT will have a public memorial at a later time. She is survived by her husband Arthur Barnes. Notes of condolence may be sent to him in care of the President's office at the AFT, 555 New Jersey, N.W., Washington DC, 20001.
