The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has initiated a nationwide boycott of the retail giant Target, calling on its members and allies to shop elsewhere for back-to-school needs. AFT President Randi Weingarten stated that the union urged Target to condemn Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minnesota, where the retailer is headquartered, but received no response.
"The issue could not be more pressing: Seven months since the murders of Alex Pretti and Renée Good, masked ICE agents are still in our streets, our schools and our communities, terrorizing families in the name of Donald Trump’s illegal and immoral assault on immigrants striving for their American Dream," Weingarten said in a statement. The union has directed members to a "Shop Smart, Not Target" website that lists alternative shopping destinations.
This action follows earlier attempts by the AFT to pressure the company, including letters sent to Target CEO Michael Fiddelke in February and March. The AFT's resolution in March explicitly called for a boycott and urged its 1.8 million members to avoid Target until the company publicly supported the Twin Cities community.
Critics have raised concerns about the AFT's use of its influence. Corey DeAngelis, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, suggested that the union's leverage of Target stock, owned by AFT members' pension funds, could be a breach of fiduciary duty. According to DeAngelis, these pension funds hold 6.79 million shares of Target stock. He called for a Department of Justice investigation into whether the AFT is using its pension funds and political influence to pressure companies.
DeAngelis also stated that urging educators and families to avoid Target is an inappropriate use of the union's resources. This call for investigation echoes a similar appeal made in July by Senator Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, to the Labor Department regarding AFT leaders' potential coordination with retirement-plan fiduciaries for political objectives.
Other critics argue that labor leaders are prioritizing political agendas over educational outcomes. Sonja Shaw, a candidate for California superintendent of public instruction and Chino Valley Unified School District board president, commented that while union leadership is focused on "money, power and influence," many students continue to struggle academically. In California, statewide assessments indicate that less than half of students meet or exceed standards in English language arts and math.
The AFT has previously engaged in political actions, including a resolution in March that formalized the boycott effort. Media reports also indicated that House lawmakers have sought answers regarding the use of member dues to finance Weingarten's book, "Why Fascists Fear Teachers," while she reportedly received royalties. Teachers, on average, spend nearly $900 of their own money annually on classroom supplies for their students, according to a 2025 teacher spending survey.