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NEA Representative Assembly
Advocacy Educators Energized at Educators Energized at NEA Representative AssemblyNEA Representative Assembly
By: Tim Walker
The 2018 National Education Association Representative Assembly (RA) convened less than a week after the U.S. Supreme Court struck a blow against working people with its decision in Janus v. AFSCME. (See Side Bar)
How to thrive in post-Janus world was just one of the many pressing issues on the minds of the 6,200 delegates as they entered the Minneapolis Convention Center on July 2.
The challenges to educators and public schools are mounting, but by the closing gavel four days later, the delegates left Minneapolis ready to harness the energy of the burgeoning Red for Ed movement and meet them head on.
These are dark days, NEA President Lily Eskselsen-García told the gathered educators in her keynote address, NEA President Lily Eskelsen-Garcia because “billionaires addresses the 2018 NEA Representative have placed Assembly. (Photo/Scott Iskowitz) themselves over the rest of us; they have no sense of servant leadership; billionaires believe that they are our rulers.” 16 Maine Educator • September 2018 But there is a groundswell of energy and support for public education that is already having an enormous impact. The movement started in West Virginia in February and quickly spread to Kentucky, Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado and North Carolina.
“You spoke the powerful truth that we are fierce fighters who will stand up for ourselves and for our students and we will be heard!” EskelsenGarcia told the cheering delegation.
Educators have a powerful ally in students. Whether its demanding lawmakers properly fund our schools or take action to help keep students safe from gun violence, young people have taken up the call.
“You see them come together in a collective voice. You feel the power of their action – they’re not complaining. They’re not waiting for permission,” Eskelsen-Garcia said, before she yielded the stage to one of those student leaders, David Hogg, survivor of the Parkland school shooting and outspoken advocate for common sense gun laws.
“We have been speaking up, mobilizing, and standing strong because our friends and family mean the world to us,” Hogg said. “We are young and that means we don’t have to accept the status quo. And we never will. We intend to close the gap between the world as it is and what it should be.”
Student activist David Hogg speaks at the NEA Representative Assembly. (Photo: Calvin Knight) In a display of union solidarity, EskelsenGarcia brought to the stage Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, to address the delegation.
Building union strength and national coalitions was the focus of NEA Executive Director John Stocks’ speech.
“We can’t be in a movement by ourselves and for ourselves,” he said. “What the Red for Ed movement has shown us is that when members and non-members, parents, communities, and students stand together, we are a formidable force and together we can fight and win."
"Attending the NEA Representative Assembly for the first time was an amazing experience! I was blown away by how it went and the discussion by the delegates that impacts our work. Lily, the NEA President, is so cool, calm and collected. I made several good friends while I was there and can't wait for the next NEA RA!" Jen Perry, UMPSA What is the NEA RA? The National Education Association Representative Assembly–the RA–is the highest decision-making body within the over 3 million-member NEA. With over 8,000 delegates, the RA is also the world's largest democratic deliberative body.
Over the course of eight business sessions spanning four days, RA delegates debate the vital issues that impact American public education and set Association policy and activities for the year ahead.
JANUS RULING Under the decision made by the Supreme Court, no state or school district or other public employer anywhere in the country can permit a union to charge non-members a fee for the costs of their representation. Such fees – often called fair share or agency fees – had previously been permitted in many states with public sector collective bargaining and allowed unions who represented a bargaining unit to spread the costs of representing that unit in bargaining across all employees in the unit. The Janus decision means that unions in the public sector can no longer charge non-members fair share or agency fees. The MEA has fewer than 200 members who pay fair share fees and are impacted by this decision.
JANUS FAQ
My school district is saying that Janus means the union needs to re-sign existing members; is that right?
No, that is wrong. Janus only addresses whether involuntary fair share fee or agency fees are permitted, and holds that they are not. The Court’s opinion expressly states (at page 48) that it is only addressing payments collected from non-members (feepayers) by stating as follows: “Neither an agency fee nor any other payment to the union may be deducted from a non-member’s wages, nor may any other attempt be made to collect a payment, unless the employee affirmatively consents to pay.”
Grants and Opportunities Digital Wish
NEA Foundation Grants technology-rich education that will provide them with the skills necessary to excel in the global economy. The NEA Foundation believes public education should Every day, Digital Wish develops new online tools stimulate students’ curiosity and excitement about and promotions that empower teachers and their learning and help them become successful 21stsupporters to get new technology for their classrooms century global citizens. and enhance learning for our children. With your help, Grant funds can be used for resource materials, Student Achievement Grants we can provide the resources our schools need to thrive. supplies, equipment, transportation, technology, or FMI: digitalwish.com scholars-in-residence. FMI: neafoundation.org
Learning and Leadership Grants
Learning & Leadership grants support the professional development of MEA/NEA members by providing grants to: • Individuals to participate in high-quality professional development like summer institutes, conferences, seminars, travel abroad programs, or action research • Groups to fund collegial study, including study groups, action research, lesson plan development, or mentoring experiences for faculty or staff. Grant funds can be used for travel, room, meals, registration fees, materials, etc. for individual grants. For group grants, funds can be used for educator stipends, substitute fees, materials, travel, meals, etc.
The following applies to both grants: Two levels of funding are available: $2,000 and $5,000. Grants fund activities for 12 months from the date of the award.
Deadlines: There are three application deadlines: October 15, February 1 and June 1.
Funding preference is given to projects that incorporate STEM and/or global learning. The NEA Foundation also strongly encourages Education Support Professionals to apply for funding in any area.
FMI: neafoundation.org
California Casualty Athletic Grants
The California Casualty Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant was established to provide support to public middle and high school sports programs.
Deadline: January 15 FMI: calcas.com/web/ calcasathleticsgrant
Digital Wish believes that every child deserves a
Committee Grants MEA’s Human, Civil Rights and Cultural Affairs Grant
This MEA grant is to help local association members provide HCR leadership opportunities in their schools and communities.
MEA’s Members are Leaders Grant
This MEA grant is to help local association members provide professional and educational leadership in their schools and communities.
MEA’s Leroy Lambert Political Action Grant
This MEA grant is to facilitate the development and implementation of a local association political action program
Deadline for Grants: December 14, 2018 Information and applications: maineea.org
Student Essay Contest
The MEA is pleased to join with the Portland Sea Dogs for its annual "My Hero Works at School" essay contest. Students are encouraged to write a short essay, no more than 300 words, about their school hero. Two winners will be selected and receive tickets to a 2019 Sea Dogs game for themselves, their family and their school hero. Entries must include the name of the student, the school, the submitting educator's name and email and the name of the school hero, if different than the submitting educator. All public school elementary and middle school students are encouraged to apply. Submit essays to Giovanna Bechard via mail at 35 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330 or email at contest@maineea.org
