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At the 1995 Representative Assembly, delegates reaffirmed NEA's "long-standing
goal of uniting all educators."
 A merger between
the NEA and the American Federation of Teachers, delegates concluded then, is "essential"
to achieving this unity goal.
Negotiators from the two
unions have been meeting ever since and are close to reaching conceptual
agreement on a set of principles that---if adopted by the governing bodies of
both organizations---would bring the two unions together into one new
organization.
Principles
of Unity could be ready for review and action this July by delegates to the 1998
NEA Representative Assembly in New Orleans.
AFT delegates would also be
voting on the same principles at their convention, also in July.
Next month's NEA Higher
Education Advocate will feature a special section devoted to a complete
update on the progress of the unity talks. In addition, a special Web page for
AFT/NEA unity talks information and discussion will be available soon at www.nea.org.
A federal judge has ruled in favor of NEA's challenge to faculty layoffs
at the University of the District of Columbia.
The judge found
that the District of Columbia financial control board exceeded its authority
when it ordered the University of the District of Columbia to lay off 125
faculty members last year. The financial control board said at the time that it
didn't have to honor the faculty contract.
The judge agreed with NEA
and the University of the District of Columbia Faculty Association that the
contract's seniority, severance pay, and other provisions should have been
followed.
The
decision recognizes the importance of the collective bargaining process and the
integrity of collective bargaining agreements.
Under the ruling, the
university is required to reinstate all faculty who were laid off in violation
of their contractual rights. The ruling also requires the university to provide
severance benefits and restore retirement contributions. (related news release)
The NEA and AFT have recommended that Congress move carefully on
changing distance education guidelines.
Currently, the federal
Higher Education Act defines an institution of higher education as one that
enrolls less the 50 percent of its students in correspondence courses, which
include distance learning offerings.
Congress is under heavy
pressure to change this definition. But NEA and AFT are urging Congress to move
cautiously before making any changes.
Congress should ensure, NEA
and AFT are noting, that educational quality is maintained, distance learning
programs are evaluated, and safeguards against fraud are in place. There ought
also be meaningful interaction between students and faculty, and faculty must
control the curriculum. |
