Member Benefits
If you’re joining our union — TEXAS AFT — you should expect more than just insurance.
Let’s answer the biggest question first: Yes, Texas AFT offers $8 million in Occupational Liability Insurance (OLI). But there’s more to our union than insurance.
When you join our union — either through one of our local unions or our Associate Membership Program — you join a union family of more than 66,000 educators and school employees in K-12 and higher education. You also join the ranks of the 1.7 million members of our national affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers, and the 12.5 million-member AFL-CIO. That means something.
Local, State & National Power
- Local Focus. Localized attention to the issues in your workplace and the needs of your community.
- Legislative Advocacy. Our union has dedicated lobbyists for the Texas Legislature, the Texas Education Agency, the Teacher Retirement System, and other state agencies. With active advocacy, we’ve won statewide pay raises, state-paid health insurance, and the passage of the Safe Schools Act.
- National Lobbying. Our affiliations with the American Federation of Teachers and the AFL-CIO also mean we have a powerful national voice in Washington, D.C. We’re also able to learn from and share resources with other state unions.
Workplace Protection & Services
We also offer the concrete benefits you expect too. Every member of Texas AFT, regardless of district or area, gets the following:
- $8 million occupational liability insurance. This is your protection against lawsuits relating to the scope of your duties as a school employee. This includes civil rights violation claims and a $35,000 Legal Action Trust to protect against criminal incidents.
- Legal Defense Fund. This fund protects against employment-related claims.
- $25,000 accidental death & dismemberment coverage. Members should fill out an AD&D beneficiary card and keep a copy in their personal files.
- $5,000 term life insurance. New members can activate this policy for free for one year. At the end of the year, they can choose whether to continue the policy.
- Special insurance offers. Through National Teacher Associates and Horace Mann, members can get special offers and services on life insurance and other supplemental insurance.
- Student loan assistance. AFT members have access to Summer, an online student loan management platform that can help you navigate your repayment and loan forgiveness options.
- Service discounts. Through our Union Plus program, you can save thousands of dollars on services like auto insurance, your mortgage, car rentals, credit cards, theme parks, and more. Additionally, some local unions have special offers for their members.