NEA staff goes on strike; Biden cancels speech before group

The National Education Association Staff Organizations (NEASO) announced Friday it is going on strike, prompting President Biden to cancel a planned speech before the NEA’s convention.

The NEASO said they were on an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike against the NEA headquarters in Washington, D.C., filing two ULP complaints with the National Labor Relations Board.  

The group alleges the country’s largest teachers’ union has not bargained over unilateral changes, accusing the NEA of wage theft and failing to provide information regarding outsourcing $50 million to contractors. 

“The National Education Association has threatened to host its convention virtually to avoid a physical picket line. For a union to trick its members into crossing a picket line is reprehensible. It also confirms what we have been saying: NEA has abandoned its union values with its actions at the bargaining table,” said NEASO President Robin McLean. 

“NEA would rather cancel a multi-million-dollar convention than comply with labor law. NEA members should question where their hard-earned dues dollars are being used — and wasted,” McLean added. 

The NEA and its staff union met on Thursday night, and the NEA said it has offered to increase the average salary for employees from $124,004 to $133,218. 

The strike will last for two days at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. 

“It is deeply concerning that misinformation has been shared related to our contract negotiations. This not only misrepresents the facts but also undermines the integrity of our ongoing efforts to honor a fair bargaining process,” a spokesperson for the NEA said.

“We have crafted in good faith a proposal for our NEASO staff to address their expressed interests while ensuring the longer-term health of our organization and the needs of our members. We will respect our staff’s picket lines. In the end, we are confident there will be an agreement that ensures we continue to serve our mission and support our members,” the spokesperson added.

In response to the news, Biden’s reelection campaign announced he would no longer be addressing the NEA on Sunday.

“President Biden is a fierce supporter of unions and he won’t cross a picket line. The President is still planning to travel to Pennsylvania this weekend, and we will have more details to share at a later point,” the campaign said in a statement.

Biden has repeatedly referred to himself as the most pro-labor president in history and in September he became the first sitting commander in chief to join a picket line, marching with autoworkers in Belleville, Mich.

—Updated at 12:45 p.m. Alex Gangitano contributed.