Nation’s largest union accused of Unfair Labor Practice

WASHINGTON—The National Education Association Staff Organization (NEASO), representing employees working at the National Education Association (NEA) headquarters in Washington, filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) following retaliatory actions from an NEA manager against a NEASO staff member for reporting a physical assault and failure to bargain over unilateral changes in working conditions. It is illegal for an employer to retaliate against an employee for reporting an act of wrongdoing to Human Resources for investigation.

“The National Education Association has a problem with holding managers accountable for their actions and complying with requirements to bargain with the Union. Until NEA hires a qualified Human Resources Director, who has the credentials to ensure legal compliance and seriously be a solutions-based representative, NEA will continue to make missteps when it comes to the protection of staff and following labor law,” said NEASO President Robin McLean. “NEASO will not stand by while NEA Management treats its hardworking staff with such galling contempt. NEA’s actions shock the conscience, and NEA members should question how NEA lives up to its union values at its headquarters.”

The assault occurred after NEASO began negotiating with NEA Management over a successor agreement. The three-year contract covers everything from employee salaries and healthcare benefits to retirement security and healthy working environments. 

In late April, NEASO members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike to secure a fair and just successor contract that reflects the shared union values that brought them to work on behalf of 3 million NEA members. The NEASO Board of Directors requested the strike authorization vote because of NEA Management’s continuous pattern of starting negotiations in bad faith around commonsense contract proposals and paltry concession offerings at the bargaining table. In its last three contract negotiations with its union staff, NEA has bargained in this fashion. NEASO’s contract expired on May 31, 2024.

You can read more personal accounts from NEASO members and find all the latest news on pickets, strike authorization, and solidarity pledges at www.neasomatters.org/strike.  

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