NEA walks back its most harmful anti-worker threats, but staff still locked out

WASHINGTON—The National Education Association (NEA) illegally locked out its unionized staff, the National Education Association Staff Organization (NEASO), in retaliation after NEASO members engaged in a three-day Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike July 5–7. In a letter dated July 7 from NEA Executive Director Kim Anderson, NEASO members were informed that their healthcare coverage would cease on July 31 unless NEASO agreed to the terms of a bad contract. After multiple media stories reported on the looming healthcare coverage end for NEASO staff, NEA reversed course. NEA is the nation’s largest labor union.

The following statement can be attributed to NEASO President Robin McLean:

“Although the National Education Association clearly reversed course after multiple media stories exposed its scare tactic to strip healthcare insurance from locked-out members of the NEA Staff Organization, the NEA has already done real harm. Threatening healthcare should have never been a negotiation tactic at the bargaining table. Full stop. 

“NEASO staff took NEA at its word that the nation’s largest labor union would cancel its healthcare insurance by the end of the month if we didn’t agree to their bad deal at the bargaining table. Because of NEA’s threats to strip away healthcare coverage, NEASO members canceled appointments and postponed critical surgeries, procedures, and other healthcare. Some NEASO members worried about whether they would be delivering a baby without healthcare coverage or whether their newborn children would be able to keep vital doctor appointments. Other NEASO members switched to their partners’ insurance, if that was even an option, and incurred additional costs. NEASO members had received COBRA letters in the mail, and those official documents laid out that NEA would end all healthcare coverage by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. The stress, duress, and confusion that NEA caused with its threats, bullying, and scare tactics have been detrimental to the health of NEASO members.

“While we acknowledge the gesture and are relieved that NEA was shamed into reversing course because it’s wrong to play with people’s lives, the issue remains that NEASO staff are still locked out, and a tentative agreement on a successor collective bargaining agreement has not been reached. We are approaching the end of week three of NEA’s illegal and punitive lockout of the NEASO staff. It is time for NEA to stop dragging out negotiations and settle a contract that upholds union values and gets NEASO members and NEA back to work.”

Read more personal accounts from NEASO members and find all the latest news from the bargaining table, NEA’s illegal lockout, and solidarity pledges at www.neasomatters.org/lockedout.

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The members of the NEASO advance the work of the National Education Association, the nation’s largest union, championing justice and excellence in public education. We help educators bargain for fair contracts, advocate for their students, and grow professionally. Go to www.neasomatters.org and learn more.