Teachers Should Know Better – NEA Presidential Endorsements
Teachers should be familiar with how the National Education Association (NEA) uses dues money to endorse presidential candidates and supports them monetarily. Especially those who are forced to support the NEA. Mike Antonucci has the story in the74million.org.
The officers and elected representatives of the National Education Association are rarely at odds with one another on major issues. A conspicuous exception to the rule has been the recommendation of candidates for president of the United States and the union’s process for making that choice.
The 2016 primary battle between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders was the source of much internal anguish, prompting groups of NEA activists to propose sweeping changes to how the union makes its recommendations. The common element of these plans was to open up the endorsement process to larger groups of members. But it has been an uphill fight, and next month will determine whether the rank and file will get an increased say, or if the top echelon of NEA leaders maintains its hold.