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NEA Welcomes New Members

The merger between NEA/New York and the New York State United Teachers brings new members—and more clout—to both organizations.

Welcome! More than 525,000 educators, including more than 50,000 higher education faculty and staff, joined NEA this summer when the National Education Association of New York and the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) joined forces. The state’s higher education members will receive publications from both unions beginning this fall.

After the merger, NYSUT president Richard Iannuzzi observed, "Uniting with NEA/NY gives us a stronger, more credible voice for our professions (and) our students." His counterpart, NEA/NY president Robin Rapaport, now a NYSUT vice president, added, "At long last, we’ll walk the walk together."

New York joins Florida, Minnesota, and Montana as the other states with merged AFT-NEA state federations.

The Democratic Leadership Council, a centrist policy group within the Democratic party, has announced a collaboration with labor unions on worker protection issues and support for the Employee Free Choice Act.

NEA, one of the founding members of the Democratic Leadership Council, has been working with the DLC on labor issues. NEA also supports the Employee Free Choice Act, S. 842 and H.R. 1696, which would protect the right of workers to organize unions without employer interference.

"We are pleased that the Democratic Leadership Council has continued to find common ground with organized labor," said NEA president Reg Weaver. "This is great news for all workers, including the teachers and education support professionals NEA represents, and we’re pleased to be a part of it."

Competitive membership grants that provide up to $10,000 for organizing and member recruitment and involvement are available from the NEA higher education program for fiscal year 2006–07. Grant applications will be sent to the states later this month and information posted on the higher ed Web site, www.nea.org/he.

During fiscal year 2005–06, NEA provided over $350,000 in special funding to its higher education affiliates for organizing new bargaining units, member recruitment and retention, technology, and distance education projects in 16 states. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $50,000 for faculty and education support professional (ESP) affiliates. The funds are in addition to NEA’s regular funding of higher education program activities.

NEA will convene its 24th annual higher ed conference entitled "The Academy at Work" March 2-4, 2007, at the San Diego Hilton Resort on Mission Bay. Starting October 31, the NEA higher ed Web site (www.nea.org/he) will offer online registration and links for online hotel reservations. The conference program will be posted and updated regularly on the site as sessions are confirmed.