Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 23
AFT Launches Target Boycott for 1.8 Million Members as Critics Seek Federal Probe
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 23

AFT Launches Target Boycott for 1.8 Million Members as Critics Seek Federal Probe

2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 23

Summary

  • AFT is pushing a nationwide back-to-school boycott of Target, directing members and families to alternative retailers after saying the company stayed silent on ICE operations in Minnesota, where it is headquartered.
  • The union said it sent Target CEO Michael Fiddelke letters in February and March, then launched its "Shop Smart, Not Target" campaign Wednesday after getting no response.
  • Corey DeAngelis, a Heritage Foundation fellow, urged a federal investigation, arguing AFT may have misused pension influence because members' funds hold 6.79 million Target shares.
  • The boycott expands a March AFT resolution that urged its 1.8 million members, families and allies to avoid Target until the retailer backed Twin Cities communities.
  • The dispute is unfolding as critics say union leaders are prioritizing politics over academics, with California proficiency rates at 48.8% in English language arts and 37.3% in math.

Insights

Does a teachers' union's focus on corporate boycotts divert essential resources away from addressing declining student academic performance?
Could leveraging millions in teacher pension shares to pressure a major retailer trigger federal fiduciary violations?
How do large educational organizations balance traditional classroom priorities with expanding roles in nationwide social advocacy?