Background on NEA-AFT unity proposal

• NEA's unity Home Page
• Principles of Unity
• A unity Q & A for NEA members
• NEA, AFT explore unity

Background

• Delegates to the 1998 NEA Representative Assembly will vote on a proposal to unify with the American Federation of Teachers. The RA is July 1-6 in New Orleans.
• Delegates to the AFT Convention this summer also will vote.
• If approved by both delegations, the two organization will merge at the national level in 2002.
• The NEA and AFT would no longer exist, and current state and local affiliates would affiliate instead with the new organization.
• The new national organization would be affiliated with the AFL-CIO.
• WEAC and WFT — and other state affiliates — would be encouraged to merge at the state level but would not be required to do so.
• WEAC and WFT currently have a “no-raid” agreement and are cooperating in certain activities.
• The WFT has about 14,000 members.

Timeline

• April 17-18: WEAC Board meets in Madison. Will discuss unity proposal and may make a recommendation to WEAC delegates who are attending the NEA Representative Assembly.
• April 24-26: WEAC Representative Assembly meets in Green Bay. Will discuss unity proposal and also may make a recommendation.
• July 1-6: NEA Representative Assembly meets in New Orleans. Will vote on unity proposal.

Posted April 3, 1998