Historical note: Successor to the City Teachers' Association of Schenectady, the Schenectady Federation of Teachers, Local 803, AFT, was formed in Schenectady, NY, in 1944 to organize teachers to fight for the pay raise which had been awarded to all other municipal employees.
The Schenectady Federation of Teachers (SFT) fought the merit rating system instituted by the Board of Education from 1948 until it was abandoned in 1952. In September 1975, SFT went on strike over the issue of class size. Since strikes by public employees are illegal under New York State's Taylor Law, a number of the members of SFT were prosecuted and sentenced to short jail terms.
From the description of Schenectady Federation of Teachers, American Federation of Teachers Local 803 records [microform], 1918-1989. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122529721
