NEA staff protest nation’s largest union illegal lockout on July 15

WASHINGTON—The National Education Association (NEA), the nation’s largest union, has illegally locked out its unionized staff in retaliation for participating in legally protected concerted work actions. Monday, July 15, marks Day 8 of NEA’s punitive lockout against the National Education Association Staff Organization (NEASO) after NEASO members engaged in a 3-day Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike earlier this month. Hundreds of NEASO staff, their families, NEA members, employees working at NEA state affiliates, fellow labor unions, and community members will march and rally in front of the NEA headquarters at 1201 16th Street NW in downtown Washington.

WHO: NEA Staff Organization (NEASO) who works on behalf of 3 million NEA members  

WHAT: Walk & Chalk, march and rally calling for an end to NEA’s illegal lockout NOW

WHY: The National Education Association, the nation’s largest union, has illegally locked out NEASO unionized staff to retaliate against a 3-day ULP strike 

WHEN: 10 a.m.–11:30 a.m. EDT, July 15, 2024 (NEASO will start at the staging area around the corner, chalk the sidewalks and then move to NEA HQ by 10:40 a.m. EDT for the remainder of march and rally)

WHERE: NEA Headquarters, 1201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

The National Education Association Staff Organization (NEASO) filed two ULPs on July 1 with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), accusing NEA of wage theft and the failure to provide the information requested by the staff union on outsourcing more than $50 million of the bargaining unit. On July 8, NEASO staff were supposed to return to work after the conclusion of a lawful three-day ULP strike. NEASO has filed additional ULPs against NEA for stranding NEASO members and the retaliatory lockout.

NEASO is still 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 to telework policies and probationary terms changes. NEA Management has continued a pattern of starting negotiations in bad faith when presented with 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. Sticking points in the negotiations include wages and benefits, health and safety, and outsourcing bargaining unit work. 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 https://www.neasomatters.org/lockedout/.

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