Global Solidarity with U.S. Educators and Public Education

As teachers, unionists, and advocates for public education, the AEU stands in unwavering solidarity with our colleagues in the United States - members of the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) - who are courageously defending the right to education, the freedom to teach, students and school communities, and the integrity of their profession.

On this 4th of July, a day that for Americans symbolises freedom, independence, and democracy, we raise our voices in support of the principles that unite us across borders. The AEU affirms that education is a fundamental human right, not a privilege to be rationed. Teachers and education support staff must be treated with respect, resourced adequately, and trusted to teach truthfully and with professional autonomy. Students, especially the most vulnerable among them, deserve safe, inclusive, and properly funded schools where they can thrive and be heard.

Union solidarity knows no borders.

The AEU is deeply concerned by the ongoing attacks by the Trump administration on the foundations of public education in the United States. These include assaults on academic freedom, the deliberate underfunding of public schools, and the continued targeting of LGBTQ+ students, undocumented youth, and students with disabilities.

These actions threaten not only the fabric of the US public education system but also the broader democratic principles we all value.

On behalf of AEU members across Australia, we proudly join the #GoPublic4Solidarity campaign. We echo the call for meaningful investment in public education over privatisation and for the protection of teacher’s rights, safety, and professional autonomy. We support global unity in the fight for equitable, inclusive, and democratic education systems.

In this moment, global union solidarity matters more than ever.

From communities across Australia to classrooms across the United States, we send a clear message: We see you. We support you. We stand with you.