Former AFT president Sandra Feldman loses battle with cancer
Delegates to the PEF Convention expressed shock and sadness on learning of the death of Sandra Feldman, 65, former president of the 1.3-million-member
American Federation of Teachers, one of PEF’s two parent international unions.
Feldman died September 18 after a long battle with cancer.
“It was a real pleasure working with Sandy,” said PEF President Roger Benson.
“She was a strong and experienced leader, who never lost her personal warmth and charm. She will be deeply missed.”
“Sandy’s death is a great loss for the AFT personally and professionally and for the children of our nation,” said AFT President Edward J. McElroy, who described her as “a leader without comparison.”
Feldman was a national labor leader and served as a member of the Executive Council and the Executive Committee of the AFL-CIO. She was a tireless advocate for children, public education and trade unionism. As president of AFT, Feldman also was in the forefront of efforts to defend the rights of public employees and other AFT members.
Her career in education, which spanned more than four decades, 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.
In 1986, Feldman became president of the AFT's largest affiliate, New York City's United Federation of Teachers (UFT). During her time at the UFT and after 1997 as president of the AFT, she met on many occasions with four presidents and countless members of Congress. She retired as president of the AFT in 2004.
Feldman is survived by her husband, a brother, a sister, two step children and two step grandchildren.
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