Dr. Eric Rader elected national AFT Vice President

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Eric Rader headhot

The HFC Federation of Teachers, Local 1650 president and HFC political science instructor Dr. Eric W. Rader has been elected as an American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Vice President at the 2026 AFT National Convention in Washington, D.C. for a 2-year term.

Rader, of Ferndale, will continue to serve in his role as president of Local 1650 and HFC instructor while serving as AFT Vice President. He also serves on the AFT Michigan Administrative Board as Executive Vice President for Higher Education.

Every two years, the AFT holds a convention to elect officers and to approve resolutions and constitutional changes. Approximately 3,000 delegates attended the convention representing the AFT’s 1.88 million members. The AFT Progressive Caucus won an overwhelming 96% of the vote at the 2026 convention.

“Prior to the start of the AFT Convention, I was invited by the AFT Progressive Caucus – which is effectively a ‘political party’ in the AFT that operates apart from the union itself – to interview for one of the 10 vacant VP positions this year,” explained Rader. “Before the convention started, I participated in my interview. Subsequently, the Progressive Caucus leadership recommended my name for nomination to AFT President Randi Weingarten, then the Progressive Caucus membership approved my addition to the slate for election at the convention.”

On the last day of the convention, delegates voted for the top three officers and the 43 vice presidents of the national union. The results were announced on the final morning of the proceedings.

Following in his late mentor’s footsteps

Rader has been a member of the Progressive Caucus since 2012 and became an elected leader in 2014. His predecessor and mentor, the late John McDonald, was a longtime member of the Progressive Caucus and introduced Rader to it. McDonald served as an AFT Vice President from 2012-21.

“It is gratifying that our union has had the pleasure and good fortune of having two great leaders as AFT Vice Presidents,” said Local 1650 Vice President for Internal Affairs and Henry Ford II Honors Program Director Chardin Claybourne.

Rader has been active with the AFT at the national level since 2014, serving on several committees in addition to being a vice president and later the president of Local 1650. These committees have allowed him to interact with Weingarten and other national AFT leaders.

“Randi came to Dearborn in April for Local 1650's 60th anniversary dinner celebration and has long been aware of what happens in Dearborn and at HFC. Randi is the hardest working leader in the labor movement and cares deeply about her members across the country. I am proud to call her my union president, and a friend and mentor,” said Rader.

Active in the AFT at the national level for years

The AFT’s constitution requires 43 vice presidential positions, which ensures each vice president can represent all their constituencies and maintain geographic balance, while also having a cross-section of different backgrounds to participate in the important discussions of the union nationally. The AFT is the second-largest teachers' union in the country and the largest higher education union in the country.

As AFT Vice President, Rader’s duties include:

  • Attending quarterly meetings of the AFT Executive Council, which is chaired by Weingarten.
  • Helping to set AFT policies between conventions.
  • Voting on the AFT’s annual budget and resolutions on various issues.
  • Helping to approve staff hire recommendations.

“The Executive Council is made up of several committees,” said Rader. “I will serve on the AFT's Committee on Political Education. I have also been appointed to serve as one of two co-chairs of the AFT LGBTQIA+ Task Force, which I’ve been on since 2022.”

Other positions include:

  • The AFT's Organizing Committee.
  • The AFT's Civil and Human Rights Committee.

He spoke about the ways that being an AFT Vice President helps with his role at HFC.

“The vice presidents come from all of AFT's constituencies, including higher ed, P-12, health care, public employees, and school and college support staff,” explained Rader. “I believe my unique contribution to the work of the AFT Executive Council will be my experience as a teacher and leader at a comprehensive community college serving a diverse student body. This also keeps HFC on the radar of the AFT as our national union lobbies for higher ed in Washington, D.C.”

HFC math instructor Sam Bazzi has been the Local 1650 Vice President for External Affairs since 2022. He has worked with Rader in Local 1650 for 20 years.

“I’ve seen firsthand Eric’s tireless dedication to our members and his deep commitment to our College community,” said Bazzi. “We are incredibly proud to see him step into this national role, continuing a strong tradition of Local 1650 leaders like the late John McDonald, shaping higher education policy across the country. Now more than ever, community college educators need a direct seat at the table on national issues like labor rights, higher ed policy, and AI. The overwhelming support Eric received in his election to the AFT Executive Council speaks volumes about the respect he has earned at every level. Our union and our College community are fortunate to have such a strong advocate championing the voices of faculty and working people nationwide.”

Working for the Granholm administration

An Ohio native, Rader graduated from Springfield Catholic Central High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Eastern Michigan University. A two-time alumnus of Wayne State University, he earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in political science.

Rader taught political science at Wayne State, EMU, Oakland Community College, Macomb Community College, and Schoolcraft College before joining the faculty full-time at HFC (then Henry Ford Community College) in 2004.

Before coming to HFC, Rader worked for the Granholm administration for two years. Jennifer M. Granholm was Michigan’s first female governor. She served from 2003 until 2011.

Granholm’s campaign office was in Livonia. Rader, who was teaching at Schoolcraft at that time, volunteered for her campaign. By the end of the summer of 2002, he was volunteering full-time and took a hiatus from teaching to work on the campaign full-time.

When Granholm was elected Nov. 5, 2002, Rader became part of her public policy transition team in Lansing. When Granholm took office on Jan. 1, 2003, Rader took a staff position in her public policy division.

“My time in Governor Granholm’s office first exposed me to public policy and how it’s crafted and implemented at the state level, especially education policy. I remain thankful to Governor Granholm for giving me a chance to serve this state,” said Rader.

A strong voice of advocacy in critical conversations

Rader has also been active within the Dearborn community.

“It speaks highly of Eric’s union work with Local 1650, statewide, and nationally that he was selected as a member of the Progressive Caucus slate. Eric’s election is an outstanding personal accomplishment and provides benefits to Local 1650 and HFC,” said Claybourne. “As an AFT Vice President, Eric can advocate for the voices of community college faculty to the AFT Executive Council. He will be involved in major decisions by the AFT on educational and political issues. Now more than ever, it’s important that community college faculty have a seat at the table and a strong voice of advocacy in critical conversations. Eric will be that voice.”

Fellow HFC political science instructor Dr. Anthony Perry agreed. Perry, a colleague at Wayne State, introduced him to HFC.

“HFC is fortunate to have Dr. Rader represent us at every level,” said Perry. “His selection as an AFT National Vice President is a reflection of his commitment to education through the faculty he represents. Eric works tirelessly on issues of academic higher education and has been an advocate for HFC throughout his tenure.”