The National Education Association (NEA), the nation’s largest union, locked out its staff union in retaliation for engaging in legally protected concerted labor actions with a 3-day Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike in Philadelphia, July 5–7.

The National Education Association Staff Organization (NEASO), representing employees at the NEA headquarters in Washington, recently filed two ULPs with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) accusing NEA of wage theft and the failure to provide information requested by staff union on outsourcing more than $50 million of bargaining-unit work to contractors.

Despite the support NEASO members received from NEA members on the picket line (see these powerful videos from Utah, Massachusetts, Washington, California, Pennsylvania, and Oregon educators), and decided that instead of shifting to uphold union values, they were going to double down on the anti-union tactics practiced by the very worst school districts and bosses across the country.

This behavior not only threatens the well being, health, and safety of NEASO employees, it sets a precedent that threatens the labor movement as a whole—and stops NEASO members from supporting the important work of NEA's members.

NEA leaders are not only willing to throw their employees under the bus, they are willing to harm NEA members and the future of the labor movement too.

So, what is next? We are holding a rally at NEA HQ from 11am - 1 pm today. We hope you will join us to send a message to NEA leadership.