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Nea - Unions

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Outline National Education Association (NEA) I. Background Information A. History 1. 1857 a. Established National Teachers Association (NTA) b. Initially only 100 members 2. 1866 c. Women were allowed to join 3. 1870 d. Became National Education Association B. Current Status 1. 3.2 million members 2. Largest professional employee organization 3. Largest union in America II. Legal Issues/Obstacles A. Shows more support for the Democratic Party B. Puts interests for its teachers ahead of students C. Fails to discipline “bad” teachers D. Embezzlement E. Force non-members to pay dues III. Federal/State/Local Laws Broken A. Child Online Protection Laws (all levels) B. Federal Laws a. Child Protection b. Child Welfare c. Misuse of monies C. State Laws d. Educational Law IV. Minimizing Litigation V. A. Proper Job Description 1. Employees/members know their required duties 2. Union representatives know their duties A. Conducting Regular Job Analysis 3. Employees 4. Union Representatives

The National Education Association (NEA) was established in 1857, by a group of educators only 100 strong. Over the next 150 years they transformed public education and in 1966 they combined their force with the American Teachers Association to build what is the nation’s largest professional employee organization as well as the largest union. The NEA is composed of three point two million members and has affiliate organizations is every state. According to "About NEA" (2002-2012), “Our Mission: Is to advocate for education professionals and to unite our members and the nation to fulfill the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world” (NEA's Vision, Mission, and Values). There is a list a page long of legal issues that the NEA is confronted with daily. Advocating for public education and educational issues come hand-in-hand with the law. The NEA is very involved in our country’s political arena. One main issue that this union has, although they claim to be non-partisan, is that they definitely lean toward the Democratic Party. In the past they have clearly have endorsed and provided support for Democratic candidates for presidency. In the big picture this has, can, and will continue to hurt them concerning recruiting members who are strong supporters of the Republican and Independent parties. Although they are very politically forward and active, there are areas in which the NEA gains large amounts of criticism, from embezzlement, to teacher misconduct, to putting its teachers ahead of the students. They claim always to have the best interest of the children and their education in mind but when they fail to do so it can be extremely harmful. The Union fails in the biggest sense when they allow a teacher to stay in his or her position not fulfilling the required job duties. This in turn fails our nation’s youth. When educators become complacent in their job, they are hurting more than just themselves and causing life last effects. Education in America will forever be changing, growing, requiring focus, and voice of its members. Working as a part of this union does offer educators collective bargaining power and legal representation. The NEA is a continuing force and a political powerhouse for the rights of children as well as any employee involved with the education process. Because they are such a large voice, they are recognized at local, state, and federal levels. They offer their members free legal services. According to "CEA - Colorado Education Association" (2010), “Our Association provides comprehensive legal assistance for a wide range of employment matters such as performance evaluations; discipline; nonrenewal, lay-offs, and dismissals; child abuse and other criminal charges; discrimination; sexual harassment; daily problems among faculty and staff or with the administration. This job protection is backed by professional liability insurance, paid for with your NEA dues.” (Legal Services). This is not without specific guidelines for representation that the members must abide by. It is important to remember that if legal issues took place prior to membership the union will not represent or provide legal support. A teacher who runs into a legal issue is offered legal support but only through a NEA/CEA appointed lawyer. There are copious areas of support that the NEA does show it members, from representation on current issues, to tools and ideas for teaching, to grants, and funding. There are five different types of memberships: Active Professional/Certified, Active Education Support Professional (ESP)/Classified, Retired, Pre-Retired Subscription, and Student Membership. An applicant must choose membership type that best fit into. Then choose state in which they work in. Depending on what type of membership is chosen the perspective member will fill out an application on the NEA site or be redirected to a state affiliate site. At the state site a prospective member must print out an application, complete it, and hand it into an AR (Association Representative) in their school. The AR will assist the new member in setting up payroll deduction for his or her dues. One can become a member at any time of the school year. The NEA is the individual teacher’s voice for important educational issues. This union bargains for its members daily. They make it easy to join and represent the 3.2 million members with fight and vigor. The intent of the NEA is not just to protect its member’s best interests but the better education in American through working together for a common good.

References: About NEA. (2002-2012). Retrieved from http://www.nea.org/home/19583.htm National Education Association - Wikipedia. (2012). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Education_Association CEA - Colorado Education Association. (2010). Retrieved from http://coloradoea.org/aboutus/legalservices.aspx

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