Ei-iE

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has banned Coca-Cola products from its facilities and events, citing Coca-Cola's child labour and human rights record.

The ban has been declared as an official new policy of the AFT and follows a resolution adopted at its 2014 National Convention in July. The AFT is affiliated to Education International (EI).

The resolution states that the AFT will “refrain from serving or selling Coca-Cola products at its offices and to the extent possible, at any venue for its events, meetings, conferences and conventions”.

It goes on to note that AFT “recommends to all its affiliates that they not serve or sell Coca-Cola products at their offices and to the extent possible, at venues for their events.”

The union has also called on affiliates to “participate in campaigns to remove Coca-Cola products from their schools, colleges, hospitals and other places in which they work”.

Move in line with AFT’s mission

“The American Federation of Teachers is a union of professionals that champions fairness, democracy, economic opportunity, and high quality public education, healthcare and public services for our students, their families and our communities,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten, reiterating her union’s stated mission. “We are committed to advancing these principles through community engagement, organising, collective bargaining and political activism, and especially through the work our members do.”