NEA allowing chapters to join AFL-CIO

[proud2BlibKansan]

This is HUGE. It sets the stage for a merger between NEA and AFT, which would create the country's largest union, with nearly 4 million members.

Largest teachers union, AFL-CIO step closer
By Greg Toppo and Brian Tumulty, USA TODAY
The nation's largest teachers union is poised to give its local chapters permission to join the AFL-CIO, setting the stage for a possible merger that could create a mega-union representing 4 million teachers and other employees.

Leaders of the National Education Association and AFL-CIO plan to announce on Monday that they will let local NEA affiliates join the AFL-CIO's central labor councils, local groups that coordinate union activity. The move would reverse longstanding policies separating NEA's 2.7 million members from the AFL-CIO, which includes the NEA's rival, the American Federation of Teachers.

Teachers in several cities and in three states — Florida, Minnesota and Montana — are already members of merged NEA/AFT unions. Teachers in New York are expected to merge this fall. The proposed agreement could pave the way for many more such arrangements.

NEA and AFL-CIO national leaders did not immediately respond to requests for interviews, but several local union officials confirmed the proposal and said they expect it to be announced at the AFL-CIO's Winter Executive Council Meeting in San Diego on Monday.

more . . .
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/employment/2006-02-24-nea-usat_x.htm

[Bozita]

1. Somewhere, Al Shanker is smiling today

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Yes he is

I was an AFT delegate in 1998 when NEA voted down the merger. I sometimes think that we might not be dealing with NCLB today had that merger been approved.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Some nice quotes from and about Al Shanker:

He urged the nation to consider what would happen to public schools should Congress approve tax credits. "Eventually the public schools will be left with only with those students who cannot be accepted by any private schools, or those expelled from private schools or those too poor to pay tuition," he warned. More than any other leader, Shanker brought a wider perspective to the fight against tax credits and, later, to vouchers. At stake was more than turf and vested interests, he believed. At stake was the nation's commitment to universal public education—a theme he would stress repeatedly as AFT president.

http://www.shankerinstitute.org/AT/teacher1.html


From Pres Clinton's eulogy to Al Shanker:

Al Shanker's life fully reflected the wisdom of the words of Herman Melville -- I bring out this quote from time to time and I don't think I know anyone it applies to better. Herman Melville said, "We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men. And among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects."

Al Shanker's cause was education. And through his lifelong devotion to it, he lifted up our children, our schools, our teachers and others who work in our schools, our nation and our world. He was truly our master teacher.

Today, education is the number one priority of the American people. Al Shanker helped to make it so. His life was full of tumult and controversy, of growth and triumph. But what I think he would want to know is, does it count? You bet it does. It counts, Al; and we thank you, we love you, and we bid you Godspeed. Thank you.

http://clinton6.nara.gov/1997/04/1997-04-09-president-remarks-at-al-shankar-memorial-service.html

[Bozita]

4. Thank you for the link to the Clinton eulogy

Why can't we have a president like that?

[oasis]

5. Two top notch organizations. (n/t)