frequently asked questions
faq about NAFT
who
are we?
We are a labor union for the teachers and school workers of Northside ISD. We are affiliated with Texas AFT, and AFT National, and AFL-CIO. We are the largest organization that represents the employees of NISD.
who can join?
Northside AFT members are teachers, counselors, nurses, support staff, IAs, Custodial staff, and classified staff.
what is local 3216?
3216 is our union number. All unions affiliated with AFT and AFL-CIO have a local number. We are governed by our Executive Board that is elected by our membership.
faq about unions
what does "right-to-work" mean?
“Right-to-work” is the name for a policy designed to take away rights from working people. Backers of right-to-work laws claim that these laws protect workers against being forced to join a union. The reality is that federal law already makes it illegal to force someone to join a union.
The real purpose of right-to-work laws is to tilt the balance toward big corporations and further rig the system at the expense of working families. These laws make it harder for working people to form unions and collectively bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions. Texas is a right-to-work state.
what is collective bargaining?
Collective bargaining is the process through which working people, through their union, work on negotiating contracts with their employer. This is done to determine the terms of their contract including pay, benefits, hours, leave, health, and safety policies.
is it illegal to join a union in texas?
Union membership is legal in Texas! You can and should join your local union.
Faq about our affiliates
who is aft?
American Federation of Teachers, AFT, is a national, public education union that was founded in 1916. AFT currently has over 1 million members and represents public school employees, nurses, higher-ed employees, and other government employees.
who is texas aft?
Texas AFT is a statewide union with 66,000 members, including educators, school employees, and retirees. Texas AFT believes that education is the path to a just and democratic society, and that the only way to give students a quality education is through the dedicated work of empowered public educators.
what is afl-cio?
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO) is the largest federation of unions in the United States. They are the democratic, voluntary federation of 56 national and international labor unions that represent 12.5 million working men and women.
AFL-CIO strives to ensure all working people are treated fairly, with decent paychecks and benefits, safe jobs, dignity, and equal opportunities. AFL-CIO helps people acquire valuable skills and job readiness for the 21st-century economy.