Are you in a UNION????

"Union 101

I have heard time and time again from competing organizations here in Louisiana that we hide the fact that we are a union. Let's make it perfectly clear....YES, WE ARE A UNION! We (members of the NEA) are proud to belong to our union. We're in the largest professional union in the United States. Knowing what that means can make your job and your paycheck better. But only if you get involved.

Ever faked a knowing nod when a veteran teacher starts talking about being in a 'right-to-work state,' and you're not really sure what she's talking about? Does 'collective bargaining' just make you think of your third-period class trying to get out of having homework? As a new educator, it can seem easier to teach physics to first-graders than to learn about your own union, much less become an active and involved member of it. But you need to do all three—get in, get educated, and get active. Your commitment has to go beyond just paying dues. But remember, the payoff is big.

"I'm very involved in how I think the school should look," says Lawrence Garcia, 35, a middle school math teacher in Thornton, Colorado. But he knows he can't do it alone.

"Teachers sometimes feel alone and scared of what the principal will say if they speak up as a union member," says Samone Thomas, 36, a seventh-grade language arts teacher in Wichita, Kansas. "But that means you don't know you have all these thousands of people behind you working to make things better."

Having a basic understanding of your union, then building on it with personal involvement, are the first steps toward better working conditions, pay, and benefits.

So if you're ready to find out more about what you're getting for your investment (besides this magazine!), and how you can reap additional rewards through your involvement, here's a primer on what Association membership means. (First tip: Your membership means you belong to the local, state, and national Association.)"