National Education Association

AFT Inventory Part I Records

dgolodner — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:06:07 -0400

Contains Series I, III, IV, VI.

Series I Presidents department, 1920-1964 4W-B-8(1-6), 4W-B-7(9)
Series III Executive Council, 1916-1980 4W-B-7(6-9)
Series IV Defunct Locals, 1916-1958 4W-B-7(3-6)
Series VI Old correspondence with locals, 1914-1940s 4W-B-7(1-2) 4W-B-6(9)

Papers consist of correspondence, ballots, proceedings from meetings, clippings, local finances, per capita reports, charter applications. Subjects include integration, federal works programs, loyalty oaths, academic freedom, federal aid to education, communist issues. read more »

United Educators of San Francisco Local 61 Records

dgolodner — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:06:08 -0400

The United Educators of San Francisco formed in 1989 after a merger of the local American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association chapters. The Union represents teachers and paraprofessionals in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). Prior to the merger, membership was split between the two unions - AFT Local 61 San Francisco Federation of Teachers, and the NEA affiliated San Francisco Classroom Teachers Association - and a large number of teachers opted out of membership altogether. Neither union had the numbers to establish a stable leadership position. Once the Rodda Act granted bargaining rights in California, the SFFT and SFCTA fought for control of SFUSD collective bargaining for teachers, alternately winning elections. This divisiveness hurt the unions’ bargaining position with the school board. For many years, beginning with SFFT President James Ballard in the 1970s, the two unions held discussions on a potential merger. It wasn’t until 1989 under SFFT president Joan Marie Shelley and SFCTA President Judy Dellamonica that the two San Francisco unions finally reached an agreement, which the membership approved by vote.

Part I of this collection contains material from the San Francisco Federation of Teachers, including minutes of the Executive Boards (1951-52, 1956-68) and general membership meeting minutes (1956-68); clippings, bulletins, memos, and photos concerning the 1968 strike and negotiations; clippings from the 1971 strike; reports and correspondence of the Bargaining Committee and various other committees; and newsletters.

Part II consist of records created before, during, and after the merger of the SFFT and SFCTA. Included are correspondence, chronological files, minutes, newsletters, news releases, leaflets and flyers, membership and dues ledgers, grievance files, salary schedules, contracts, constitutions and bylaws, chronological files, and photographs.

AFT Inventory Part II Records

dgolodner — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:06:07 -0400

Contains Series VIII-XIII. read more »

Series VIII State publications, 1950s-1963
Series IX, miscellaneous materials 1935-1964
Series X communications to locals, 1934-1963
Series XI memos and mimeographed materials, 1921-1964
Series XII Locals, 1914-1960s 4W-B-5 (1-3) 4W-B-4(5-9)
Series XIII AFT conventions, 1916-1967

AFT Office of the President Records

dgolodner — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:06:07 -0400

Minutes, correspondence, reports, publications covering the president's office of Carl Megel and predominantly Charlie Cogen and David Selden. Important subjects are teacher strikes, contract negotiations, school desegregation, Oceanhill-Brownsville, education legislation, job stress, teacher centers.

The records are divided into two parts.

AFT Organizing Department Records

scaloia — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 16:37:56 -0500

The Organizing Department facilitates the growth of local affiliates of the American Federation of Teachers. Under the tenures of David Selden and Albert Shanker, both of whom had extensive organizing experience prior to their respective presidencies, organizing efforts ramped up significantly in the 1960s and 1970s. The AFT was the fastest growing union in the mid-1970s when organizing became a distinct department. The department provides services and resources to state and local affiliates across the country. Field representatives and other department staff members assist locals in organizing campaigns and collective bargaining elections. Individuals who have served as head of organizing in the past include Jim Mundy, John Schmid, Phil Kugler, and Lou Nayman.

The AFT Organizing Department Records include correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, contracts and bargaining agreements, grievance files, surveys, newsletters and brochures, personnel files, material related to workshops and conferences, and organizing campaign files. Organizing efforts revolve around primary and secondary school teachers and paraprofessionals, bus drivers, college and university employees, and nurses and other health care professionals.

Ann Arbor Teachers Association Records

dgolodner — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:55:45 -0500

Ann Arbor Teachers Association was formed in 1911 as a teachers club and later in 1921 affiliated with the National Education Association. The collection contains information that reflect the operation of the association with minute books from the association to its’ participation with the Michigan Education Association. The collection contains interesting information on Michigan legislation, bussing of schoolchildren and the relationships with the parent-teacher organizations.

Detroit Education Association Records

drice — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:26:30 -0400

Correspondence, reports, minutes, constitutions, awards, petitions, publicity material, drafts of articles, notes, posters, press releases, newsletters, calendar of meetings, bound journals, scrapbooks, and newspaper clippings of the Detroit Education Association and its predecessor, the Detroit Teachers Association. Subjects include DEA collective bargaining election contests with the Detroit Federation of Teachers (1963-66); DEA budget presentations to the Board of Education (1955-64); DEA constitutional revision (1963-64); DEA contract negotiations with the Board of Education (1961-67); DEA lobbying activities with the Michigan Legislature (1955-65); DEA membership campaigns (1959-66); Michigan Education Association Board of Directors meetings (1963-67); MEA Representative Assembly (1964); MEA regional conferences (1960-64); MEA Teachers Institute Day (1964); National Education Association conventions (1959-66); Detroit school millage campaigns (1959-63); Detroit Teachers retirement programs (1951-65); education proposals for Detroit public schools (1958); Livonia Education Association (1962-63); and Michigan Constitutional Convention (1961-62). Correspondents include Samuel M. Brownell, Charles Diggs, John Dingell, Martha Griffiths, Thaddeus M. Machrowicz, Patrick V. McNamara, George Romney, Harold Ryan, and Robert Waldron.

Livonia Education Association Collection

dgolodner — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:28:04 -0500

Livonia Education Association was founded in 1945. The collection contains information from 1945 to 1968. It contains information on two strikes that the association had in the 1960s as well as general office files and organization files. Grievances are may contain information relevant to the issues of the strikes.

Robert Nielsen Papers

dgolodner — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 15:30:02 -0400

Dr. Robert M. Nielsen was born in Nebraska in 1933. Dr. Nielsen became a professor of mathematics at the University of Delaware. In the late 1960s he was the co-founder of the AFT local for faculty at the university and was president from 1969-1973.
In 1973 Nielsen became director of the AFT’s colleges and universities department in which he took both aspects of academic professionalism and union professionalism into creating a strong and viable department within the AFT. Dr. Nielsen was promoted to assistant to the president for higher education in July 1979. He had a regular column in the American Teacher as well as in the AFT’s publication specifically for members in higher education called On Campus. During his tenure at the AFT Dr. Nielsen played a vital role in organizing new higher education locals within the AFT and brokered joint organizing campaigns with the American Association of University Professors. From 1989-1990, he was a visiting professor at the University of Texas – Austin as a consultant to the Carnegie Foundation Mathematics Quality Education for Minorities Project.

He retired from the AFT in 1991 to work on developing better mathematical education reform. Dr. Nielsen died of cancer in February 2002.

James H. Williams Papers

abarker — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:41:06 -0400

A founder of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) Louisville branch, Students for Social Action, James Williams was active in various radical, student and labor organizations, such as the Southern Student Organizing Committee, the young People’s Socialist League, and Operation Freedom. Mr. Williams held positions on the staff of the IUE News, the West Virginia Federation of Labor, the American Newspaper Guild, and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Workers Education Local 189, the National Education Association (NEA), and Labor Today.
Mr. Williams’ papers reflect his involvement in various student and radical organizations, and to a lesser degree, his participation in the NEA Staff Organization (NEASO). The Committee for Miners, selective service, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and SDS are among important subjects in the collection.

Box 3 is unavailable.

Workers' Education Local 189 Records

drice — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:18:52 -0500

Workers Education Local 189, American Federation of Teachers, was founded in November 1922 as the bargaining agent for the faculty members of Brookwood Labor College. After Brookwood closed its doors in 1937, Local 189 opened its membership to all persons, regardless of geographic location, who were engaged in workers' education. Throughout its existence Local 189 had been active in distributing workers' education materials to other members of the AFT, and to public schools, colleges and to the community at large. Members developed histories of the labor and civil rights movement. In the 1960s and 1970s Local 189 became vocal critics of the war in Vietnam and of President Nixon and voiced their opinion about the direction of the AFT. When the executive board of the AFT passed a resolution limiting locals to one geographic area, Local 189 would not abide by this and disaffiliated from the AFT in 1977.
The papers reflect the activities of the union in promoting workers' education, developing standards for workers' educators and supporting various progressive causes. The collection also documents the controversy which led disaffiliation from the AFT.

(11651) Coalition of American Public Employees

jruss — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:46:39 -0500

The Coalition of American Public Employees (CAPE) was created as a joint effort between AFSCME and the National Education Association (NEA). Leaders of the newly formed group speak at a press conference in March 1971. From left: NEA Executive Secretary Sam Lambert, NEA President Helen Bain, AFSCME President Jerry Wurf, AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Ames, and AFSCME Executive Assistant Bill Lucy.

(11652) Coalition of American Public Employees

jruss — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:13:20 -0500

Leaders of the Coalition of American Public Employees (CAPE), a group formed by AFSCME and the NEA (National Education Association), testifies before the Labor Subcommittee on the Public Employee Relations Act in October 1973. From left: Wm. Howard McClennan, NEA President Helen Wise, AFSCME President Jerry Wurf, and CAPE Director Ralph Flynn.

(11653) Coalition of American Public Employees

jruss — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:34:25 -0500

AFSCME President Jerry Wurf (left) and Coalition of American Public Employees (CAPE) Director Ralph Flynn take reporters’ questions after Wurf’s address to the National Education Association (NEA) Representative Assembly in Portland, Oregon. CAPE was formed jointly by NEA and AFSCME. Wurf and Flynn urged other public employee groups to join CAPE and discussed CAPE’s efforts to strike down the Hatch Act, to gain legal protection for public pensions, and to exempt teachers’ retirement contributions from federal income taxation.

(11654) Coalition of American Public Employees

jruss — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:02:25 -0500

Leaders of the Coalition of American Public Employees (CAPE), a group formed by AFSCME and the NEA (National Education Association), give a press conference. From right: AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Bill Lucy, NEA President Catherine Barrett, AFSCME President Jerry Wurf, and NEA Acting Executive Secretary Allan West.

(11668) National Education Association Convention

jruss — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:22:41 -0500

AFSCME President Jerry Wurf addresses delegates at the 1974 National Education Association (NEA) convention.

(11669) National Education Association Convention

jruss — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:27:17 -0500

AFSCME President Jerry Wurf (left) talks with National Education Association (NEA) Executive Secretary Terry Herndon during a reception at the 1974 NEA Convention.

AFT 61st Annual Convention

jruss — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:47:09 -0500

Al Shanker hits on a few major topics in this speech. He begins by talking about the success AFT and the labor movement had in organizing to help Jimmy Carter win the presidency. He mentions the meetings he has had with the new administration that give him hope for funding and enforcement of educational issues and laws like the 1973 Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) and Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 which deals with improving the academic achievement of the disadvantaged. read more »

AFT Convention 1980 State of the Union Speech

jruss — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:21:18 -0500

Al Shanker addresses union members and guests at the AFT annual convention. He discusses at great length legal, political, and judicial issues that affect public education including: a recent Supreme Court decision in the case National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) v. Yeshiva University in which professors were deemed management and thus unable to unionize; Lau Regulations, named for a court case, Lau v. Nichols, which mandated bilingual education; Youth Employment Programs that created publicly funded private institutions for high school students; the presidential Democratic Convention at which Jimmy Carter won the nomination over the AFT's endorsed candidate, Ted Kennedy; and the NEA's support of the Department of Education. Additionally, Shanker welcomed to the convention union members who were not involved in education as the AFT had recently added members from the health care and civil service fields. Shanker also welcomed international members and asserted the AFT's commitment to human rights and international aid. Shanker warned against tuition tax credits and vouchers. He also discussed partnerships with the business community to address dire economic conditions in the nation's cities, enlisting corporate help to support schools. Finally, Shanker states that education cannot be improved by political action alone, insisting that teachers commit to improving educational quality and relationships with parents.

AFT Detroit Regional Conference Albert Shanker Address and Press Conference, 1985

jruss — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:31:03 -0400

During this lengthy press conference, Al Shanker focuses on professionalization of teaching. He states that the push for tuition tax credits and vouchers threatens the public education system, and he urges the field to look at itself critically and, much like the automobile industry, figure out how to restructure in order to survive. The teachers' unions need offer more than good contracts and higher salaries. Teachers want dignity and respect, and unions must be involved in bringing professional recognition to the field. Shanker notes the coming teacher shortage and comments that if teachers were treated with more professional respect, the retention rate would be higher, and better applicants could be recruited. He acknowledges that the public is right to mistrust the education system right now. In order to earn public trust and professional respect, teachers should submit to higher standards and pass a rigorous entry exam. He also sees a need for teachers to interact more with colleagues. He cites a program in Toledo where a group of outstanding teachers has been removed from the classroom for three years to work with new hires and to recommend tenure decisions. He further suggests that teachers should be involved in textbook selection. Shanker argues that teachers should be intimately involved in restructuring school and implementing education reform. Finally, Shanker urges teachers to do more than criticize the current state of affairs. He argues that developing a positive vision will help gain public support. A question and answer session followed Shanker's speech. Many questions asked for more details on the proposed teacher examination. Shanker expounded and described a three part exam that would test subject specialty, child psychology, and pedagogy and would include an internship. He does not believe that current teachers should be tested. Another audience member questioned how legislators can help professionalize teaching? Shanker responded that the whole point would be for legislators to be less involved. Other professions, he notes, do not have long laws mandating every last detail. If anything, he asserts, legislators should loosen restrictions and give teachers more responsibility. Shanker then responds to why the NEA does not support his call for a teacher examination, and in doing so, gives more details about his proposal. He argues for more resources to be given to early grades, and he argues for restructuring the typical school model.

Good Morning, America: “Politics in Education”

jruss — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:32:03 -0500

Al Shanker and NEA President Mary Hatwood Futrell, are interviewed about the role of education in the 1984 presidential campaign. They discuss whether the candidates are truly discussing policy or merely spouting rhetoric. They also weigh in on issues like the extent to which the federal government should play a role in education, merit pay, teacher recruitment, and funding.

Instructor: “Futrell & Shanker Face Off”

jruss — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:22:13 -0500

NEA president Mary Futrell and Al Shanker discuss a wide variety of education topics including the need to focus on elementary schools to ensure that students learn basic skills and are not promoted without gaining literacy; the potential for a merger between NEA and AFT; teacher salaries and teacher recruitment; teacher evaluation and teacher standards; professionalization of teaching; and restructuring the educational system.

Meet the Press

jruss — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:21:21 -0500

Al Shanker fields questions from a panel of interviewers on a wide range of topics including the purpose of the teacher union movement; teacher salaries; student achievement; the rise of public employee unionism; Shanker's role at local and national levels of teachers' unions and the labor movement; school integration and busing; how to measure productivity in education; how to merge the National Education Association (NEA) and the AFT; the effects of teacher strikes; and school vouchers.

National Conference on Achievement Testing and Basic Skills

jruss — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:55:29 -0400

Shanker is a part of a panel with John Ryor to discuss teacher testing. Shanker's statements reflect what he sees as the fall of respect for the teacher and to bring respect back to the profession a national teacher test should instituted like doctors and lawyers do to practice their profession. John Ryor's statement starts on page 1-121 and question were asked starting on page 2-137

NPR Options in Education, “Teacher Power”

jruss — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:21:18 -0500

Al Shanker and James Harris, president of the NEA, are interviewed by moderator John Merrow. They discuss the differences between their organizations and the possibility for merger. Some of the differences they discuss are secret ballot elections, affiliations with the AFL-CIO and CAPE (Coalition of Public Employees), quotas and affirmative action, and problems in the educational system. The vigorous debate reaches no consensus.

NPR Options in Education, “The Great Debate III”

jruss — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:31:03 -0400

John Merrow interviews Al Shanker and NEA Executive Director Terry Herndon. They begin by discussing discipline in schools and corporal punishment. Then, Merrow asks the union leaders about standardized tests for students and about evaluative examinations for teachers. The debate then turns to tenure. Herndon and Shanker both advocate strongly for tenure while Merrow questions its purpose. Next the leaders discuss affirmative action and quotas, especially focusing on a court case, Bakke v. read more »

NPR Options in Education, “The Great Debate”

jruss — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:31:03 -0400

In this debate moderated by John Merrow, Al Shanker and the NEA's Terry Herndon discuss a number of topics. The differences between the two organizations are dissected including the AFT's affiliation with the AFL-CIO and NEA's desire to remain separate from other labor groups; the NEA's use of racial quotas in its administration; and the use of secret ballots in the two organizations. Next, the two leaders discuss membership campaigns in New York, California, and Florida, where the NEA and AFT were competing for members. read more »

Speaking Freely

jruss — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:55:31 -0400

Albert Shanker is interviewed by Edwin Newman. They discuss education finance, educational vouchers and the then teacher surplus. They cover the Shanker's upbringing, the idea of a merger with the National Education Association and the rise of public employees in the AFL-CIO.

The Dangers of not Having any New Ideas

jruss — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:29:48 -0500

Al Shanker states that teachers should take charge of education reform rather than waiting for legislators with little to no expertise to write mandates that make little sense and are nearly impossible to meet. He cites three areas that should be addressed: increasing teacher pay, reducing class size, and giving teachers more time to grade work and plan lessons. Yet, Shanker said this would cost more money than they can ever realistically expect to receive. So what is the answer, he asks? read more »

Today Show with Barbara Walters

jruss — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:10:05 -0500

Barbara Walters interviews Al Shanker and James Harris, president of the National Education Association (NEA) about a bill under consideration in Congress that would give teachers the right to bargain collectively. Harris and Shanker answer Walters's questions, explaining what the bill, if passed, would mean in practice.

United University Professors (UUP) Bargaining Election Workshop

jruss — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:07:00 -0500

Al Shanker urges members of the United University Professors (UUP) of the SUNY (State University of New York) campuses to affiliate with AFT rather than with NEA. The major benefit he cites is the fact that AFT is already established in the state whereas the NEA would have to build the organization from the ground up. He discusses recent events in collective bargaining legislation, including an agency fee law in New York that greatly increased the UUP's bargaining power.