'Shameful' and 'Hypocritical'—NEA's Union Staff Fights Nation's Largest Union For A New Contract
“As the largest union in the nation, it is deeply disheartening to witness our employer's ongoing actions at the bargaining table.” — NEASO
By Peter List, Editor | June 5, 2024
The National Education Association (NEA), with over three million members, is the largest labor union in the nation. The unionized staff of the NEA, known as the National Education Association Staff Organization (NEASO), is currently in dispute with the massive union’s management over a new contract for its 350 members.
NEASO’s contract with the NEA expired on May 31st, and union staff is currently working under the expired contract.
“This could mark the third consecutive time in 3 years that NEA management has failed to uphold union values and force their staff to work on an expired contract,” the union stated last week as the contract expired.
On Monday, the union expressed its disappointment with union management.
“As the largest union in the nation, it is deeply disheartening to witness our employer's ongoing actions at the bargaining table,” the union stated on Facebook.
“Despite publicly championing labor rights and portraying themselves as staunch advocates for workers,” the union continued, “their actions behind closed doors tell a very different story—one that is shameful and hypocritical, undermining the entire labor movement.”
In May, NEASO members authorized a strike if the union could not get an agreement from NEA management. Though the union has not called a strike yet, union members did conduct a “practice strike” in mid-May.
A request for comment was sent to the NEASO. However, no response has been received.
