NEA Staffers Locked Out Following Strike, Disrupting Convention and Biden Speech

The National Education Association and its employees’ union are currently in negotiations following a three-day strike, which caused disruptions at the NEA’s annual conference and resulted in President Joe Biden’s speech being canceled. The timing of a contract agreement and when the staff will be allowed to return to work post-lockout remains uncertain.

Around 300 employees are not receiving their regular pay or benefits during the lockout period. The National Education Association Staff Organization (NEASO) has been operating without a contract since the end of May.

The third strike organized by NEASO this summer took place on July 5 in Philadelphia during contract talks and the annual delegate assembly of the union. As a response, the NEA ended the remainder of the conference, which was initially scheduled to run through the weekend. President Biden refrained from speaking at the event, respecting the picket line set up by the strikers.

Following the originally planned conclusion of the conference on July 8, NEA closed its office doors.

On July 8 and 10, hundreds of NEASO members gathered outside the NEA headquarters in Washington, D.C., protesting the lockout, which they considered both illegal and punitive.

“They have tried to portray NEASO as disrespectful. They have tried to depict NEASO as individuals motivated by greed,” remarked Robin McLean, NEASO president, during the rally on July 10. “They perceive us as less than human. They have even installed bars on the doors. Who does that?”

The ongoing negotiations are primarily centered on salary matters, such as a proposed 4% annual pay raise, the reinstatement of yearly salary step increments after a 12-year freeze, and constraints on when the NEA can outsource bargaining unit tasks.

This summer, NEASO has staged two prior strikes, citing a history of bad-faith bargaining practices and alleged unfair labor acts by the union. NEASO has filed numerous complaints with the National Labor Relations Board this year, including claims of holiday overtime pay withholdings by NEA and lack of transparency regarding the outsourcing of significant bargaining unit responsibilities.

In late June, NEASO accused a manager of physically assaulting an employee and retaliating against the worker for reporting the incident. They also alleged that NEA has unilaterally altered working conditions without proper negotiations.

NEASO has demanded that NEA should permit the staff to return to work, arguing that the lockout is a form of unlawful retaliation.

“I sincerely hope that NEA will adhere to the National Labor Relations Act, stop any further unfair labor practices, and behave as a labor union rather than an anti-union entity,” wrote McLean in a letter dated July 11.

“NEA is willing and ready to establish an agreement that includes salary increases, a competitive wage scale, comprehensive benefits, a secure retirement plan, and quality healthcare for staff and their families,” stated the union in a release dated July 8.

Sharing her experience at the July 10 rally, Erin Wagner, a senior digital strategist at NEA for the past six years, highlighted the lack of significant compensation growth during her tenure.

“Living in this city, raising my daughter with the salary I earn—it’s becoming unsustainable,” expressed Wagner, a resident of Washington. “I am among the 25% of NEASO members holding additional jobs just to make ends meet here.”

McLean encouraged union members to remain steadfast throughout the lockout and ongoing negotiations.

“We need to persevere and remain resolute. We must stick with this until the very end,” urged McLean at the July 10 gathering. “Some might question how we can keep going. I do it for all of you. I’ve worked alongside you for almost 23 years as of August. We are effecting change. Stay strong. Victory will be ours.”