AFT Resolution

PRINCIPLES OF UNITY

Our Mission

Three years ago, negotiators from the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association set out in a renewed effort to create a united institution.

From the beginning, leaders of both groups envisioned a new organization of men and women dedicated to providing a quality education for every child in America. An organization embodying the highest ideals and aspirations of its members. An organization willing to question familiar assumptions and explore new ideas. An organization better, not just bigger, than either the AFT or NEA alone.

Such an organization has been the goal of AFT and NEA policy for more than a generation. The elected representatives of both organizations now have the opportunity to make this vision a reality.

The AFT and NEA are both strong and successful institutions. Our success in building thoughtful, democratic organizations of educators has created an enduring legacy and transformed the lives of millions of children. Our work has attracted to both organizations professional and technical employees in health care and state and local government who have, in turn, helped us achieve goals important to our common future.

Today, we must all work together, as never before. Our accomplishments, as separate organizations, stand threatened. Our members face unprecedented assaults on public education and public service and increasingly fierce attacks on their rights as working Americans.

Together, in a new United Organization, we can benefit from the wisdom, talent, and experience of AFT and NEA members the nation over.

Together, we can devote more energy to preserving America's schools "the public schools" joining with those who would also transform them to meet the challenging needs of a changing age.

Together, united in a reinvigorated labor movement, we can more effectively advance the cause of economic and social justice and civil and human rights.

Together, we can better serve America's children and those who educate them, strengthening democracy in our schools, in our workplaces, and in our nation.

Principle One

The United Organization will champion public education.

Free, universal public education "America"s great contribution to democracy" succeeds when all citizens accept responsibility for its success. The United Organization will welcome, at every level, help in ensuring every child a quality public school. Toward that end:

The United Organization will forge partnerships to help eliminate the inequities that deny students a safe and supportive learning environment.
The United Organization will help members share and perfect their professional skills and insist on high standards throughout the education profession.
The United Organization will devote substantial resources toward identifying and promoting practices and strategies that enhance student achievement.

Principle Two

Education will be the United Organization's core membership jurisdiction.

The United Organization will be deeply committed to improving the well-being of members and the communities they serve. The UO will help affiliates in all jurisdictions maintain their current organizations and organize new members. Toward that end:

Education employees will be the United Organization's core jurisdiction.
This core jurisdiction will cover every category of employee in public education and education-related public agencies and institutions, from pre-school through graduate school and lifetime learning.
The education jurisdiction will also extend to employees in non-public schools and programs, such as Head Start, funded by public tax dollars.
The core jurisdiction will include pre-K to 12 teachers and other education professionals; ESP/PSRP employees; administrative personnel who are members of UO locals; and faculty, non-teaching professionals, and support staff in higher education.
The United Organization will also include affiliates that represent professional and technical employees in health care and state and local government.
Active members employed in all UO jurisdictions will enjoy full rights and services at the national, state, and local levels.
Retired members will have rights and services consistent with those currently held in the AFT and NEA.
Students preparing for careers in education will be eligible for membership in the United Organization.
The United Organization will also create an at-large membership category for individuals who cannot join a local affiliate.

Principle Three

The United Organization will reach decisions democratically.The United Organization created by the AFT and NEA will reflect a deep commitment to democratic principles and procedures' at every level. Members will run the United Organization. Toward that end:

The highest governing body of the United Organization will be a convention whose delegates will be directly elected by members.
Active members will elect convention delegates on a one-person, one-vote basis, with separate representational formulas for state and local affiliates that will produce an overall delegate total roughly equal to the number of delegates who currently attend the AFT Convention and NEA Representative Assembly.
Retired members and students will also elect convention delegates, according to formulas developed for each membership category.
All delegates will be elected in secret ballot elections conducted by United Organization state and local affiliates and comparable retiree and student organizations.
Delegates from states will represent members from locals that do not send delegates.
To allow smaller locals the opportunity to be represented at the convention, such locals will be able to form clusters to reach the threshold for electing a delegate.
Education members will be represented at the United Organization convention by delegates from either their local or state affiliate.
If not represented through their local union or state affiliate, members in health care or state and local government may be represented by delegates from a national-level council representing their jurisdiction.
Unless otherwise elected as delegates, the national officers and state affiliate presidents will be automatic ex officio delegates to the United Organization convention.
Delegates to the United Organization convention will determine UO policies and approve the UO budget.
The United Organization convention will be held annually until 2008 or 2009, the first year after the second election of officers held under the regular governance structure.
At this time, convention delegates will cast one ballot to determine, by majority vote, whether national officers and Executive Board members will be limited to three four-year terms and whether conventions will be held every two years.
The convention will conduct all elections and roll-call votes by democratic processes that insure that every member is represented, preserve the individual integrity of every delegate's vote, and hold delegates accountable to members.
In elections and roll-call votes, counts will be recorded by state and local affiliate, but each individual delegate will vote by secret ballot.
In such balloting, the membership voting strength of each local and state will be divided equally "weighted" among the number of each local and state's delegates present at the convention.
Procedures will be established to protect the anonymity of a delegate casting a local's entire vote.
Delegates to the convention will elect the seven United Organization national officers.
The seven officers will serve as the United Organization's full-time executives.
The national officers will serve four-year terms that begin in the same year.
The president will be the chief executive officer, with primary responsibility for administering the affairs and carrying out the policies and programs of the organization.
The second highest-ranking officer will be the executive vice-president, who will advise and assist the president, perform functions assigned by the president and governing bodies and documents, and act in place of the president when that officer is unable to fulfill the functions of the office.
The secretary-treasurer will be the chief financial officer, whose responsibilities will include collecting, safeguarding, and dispensing funds and administering United Organization properties.
The four vice-presidents will advise and assist the president and carry out specific duties as assigned.
The Executive Board will set United Organization policy between conventions.

The Executive Board will include the seven national officers and 30 additional members elected at-large by delegates to the United Organization convention.
Executive Board at-large members will serve four-year terms that begin the same year as the terms of the national officers.
The Executive Board will meet seven times each year.
The Executive Board will develop and recommend the UO budget to the convention and, between conventions, make necessary modifications.
The Leadership Council, a broadly representative body, will advise, assist, and make policy and program recommendations to the United Organization convention, officers, and Executive Board.
The approximately 400 members of the Leadership Council will include all Executive Board members, all state affiliate presidents, all presidents of local affiliates with 2,500 members or more, representatives from constituency groups, and members elected at-large from the states.
State affiliates will be entitled to one at-large seat on the Leadership Council for every 10,000 members outside locals of 2,500 or more.
One at-large Leadership Council seat for every state affiliate will be reserved for a representative of a small local.
No state affiliate will have total representation on the Leadership Council of less than one seat for every 10,000 members, with the total defined to include seats held by a state affiliate president, presidents of locals of 2,500 or more, and members elected at large.
The Leadership Council will meet at least three times a year.
The United Organization will seek out and involve the widest spectrum of leaders and help these leaders develop the skills necessary to help the organization succeed.
Each of the three major areas of the core education constituency "pre-K-12 teachers and other professionals, ESP/PSRP employees, and higher education faculty and staff" will have a constituency advisory board of affiliate leaders.
The constituency advisory boards will provide each education constituency a forum for proposing recommendations to the UO Executive Board and developing a vision for constituents and the institutions they serve.
Affiliates representing members in health care and state and local government will each have a council at the national level to serve as a forum for proposing recommendations to the UO Executive Board and developing a vision for constituents and the institutions they serve.
Based on the recommendation of the UO president, the Executive Board will appoint constituency advisory board and council chairs and members.
All chairs of constituency advisory boards and national-level councils will be Leadership Council members.

Principle Four

The United Organization will strongly support affiliate efforts to serve members.

State and local affiliates will be the foundation of the United Organization. States and locals will provide most basic services to members and will receive substantial support from the national organization. Toward that end:

The United Organization will develop a full partnership with state affiliates to coordinate objectives and advance mutual interests.
State affiliates will have a vital role in providing and coordinating services for affiliates and members.
State affiliates will be the primary vehicle for providing programs and services of the United Organization to local affiliates and members.
Coordinating with appropriate state affiliates, the United Organization may provide programs and services to local affiliates.
A state within the United Organization will be defined to include the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Department of Defense Schools.
Self-governing autonomy for affiliates will be a keystone of the United Organization.
State and local affiliates will elect their own officers and governing bodies and govern their internal affairs subject to United Organization standards.
Local affiliates will remain free to negotiate and enforce contracts, decide how to settle grievances and litigation, set their own policy on professional issues, determine political endorsements for local offices within their own jurisdiction, and participate in endorsing state and national political candidates.
The ultimate objective will be one affiliate in each state, but the United Organization will encourage, not require, such a structure.
All state unity agreements will be subject to national approval, and the United Organization will establish guidelines and provide special assistance to promote such agreements.
The United Organization will encourage unified state affiliates to respect staff rights in the workplace and retain state staff employed at the time of unification.
The United Organization will develop guidelines for unified state organizations.
These guidelines will encourage the creation of unified state affiliate structures that reflect, as much as possible and practical, the UO national structure in such key areas as the election of officers, governing bodies, and delegates, as well as the voting procedures at conventions, AFL-CIO affiliation, dues levels, and terms of office for officers and governing body members.
A unified state structure will encourage the involvement of members from each UO predecessor organization, and representatives from the smaller former organization will be guaranteed representation for at least two terms in both state governing bodies and, where feasible, statewide office.
State unity agreements will be considered for approval once the AFT Convention and NEA Representative Assembly approve these Principles of Unity.
The United Organization will develop guidelines for cooperation between separate state affiliates within a state.
The United Organization will set minimum standards for state affiliates and create a mechanism to assure compliance.
All delegates to a state affiliate convention must be elected by secret ballot according to a membership formula that guarantees members representation on the basis of one person, one vote.
State elections must comply with generally recognized procedures for democratic elections, from spelling out reasonable eligibility requirements for office in writing to prohibiting the use of union or employer funds in election campaigns.
Independent audits must be conducted annually, presented to the state governing body, and filed with the United Organization.
A state must not discriminate against members or those seeking membership on the basis of ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or physical disability.
Members and local affiliates must have access to due process before they are censured, suspended, or expelled.
A state affiliate will not accept as an active member an individual employed in a job category not included in the UO jurisdictions without UO approval.
The ultimate United Organization objective will be one affiliate in each local jurisdiction.
Where locals are organized by different job categories "one local representing teachers, for instance, and the other, support personnel" the individual locals may retain their status as separate locals.
Where former AFT and NEA locals that represent members in the same jurisdiction are unable to unify, the United Organization will rely on state affiliates to promote unification and will help states in this effort.
Where former AFT and NEA locals in the same jurisdiction do not unify by a date to be determined, the United Organization will charter the local recognized as the collective bargaining agent or, in jurisdictions without collective bargaining, the local recognized as the exclusive representative, provided that the employees had chosen that local as their representative in a secret-ballot election.
In jurisdictions where neither the AFT nor NEA local is recognized as the sole employee representative, the United Organization will develop guidelines for determining the local UO affiliate.
The United Organization will set minimum standards for local affiliates.
All local officers must be elected by secret ballot, according to a membership formula that guarantees members representation on the basis of one person, one vote.
Local elections must comply with generally recognized procedures for democratic elections, from spelling out reasonable eligibility requirements for office in writing to prohibiting the use of union or employer funds in election campaigns.
Periodic audits must be conducted and presented to the local governing body and members.
A local must not discriminate against members or those seeking membership on the basis of ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or physical disability.
Members must have access to due process before they are censured, suspended, or expelled.
Local affiliates with members in the health care and state and local government jurisdictions can be part of one of three state-level structures in the United Organization.
These locals may be part of a single state affiliate that includes all local affiliates in the state.
In states where there is not a single state UO affiliate, these locals may be part of a second state affiliate that includes members in more than one jurisdiction.
In states where a unified state affiliate does not include locals in health care or state and local government, these locals, with the approval of the United Organization and in consultation with other affiliates, may create a state council for all local health care or state and local government affiliates.
Affiliates in health care or state and local government that want to form a state council must meet specific criteria to ensure their ability to deliver high quality services to members.
These affiliates must have a membership and income sufficient to support the staff and programs necessary to provide a broad range of services to members.
These affiliates must have an organized presence in multiple locations around the state.
These affiliates must have the capacity to meet the same standards as state affiliates.
To protect member rights, the United Organization will have the power to investigate and resolve disputes within and among affiliates.
The United Organization may establish trusteeships to restore democratic procedures or remedy corruption or financial malpractice.
In all dispute situations resolved by the United Organization, the affiliates involved will have access to an appeals process.

Principle Five

The United Organization will provide the highest quality services to members.

To become effective advocates for quality education, the members of the United Organization will need support from every level of the new organization. Both the AFT Organizational Assistance Program and the NEA UniServ program have served members well. The United Organization will help affiliates build upon these and other current services and break new ground to improve service quality. Toward that end:

The United Organization will offer a financial support program that helps affiliates deliver services to members.
Financial support from the United Organization will be distributed by a formula keyed to the number of members in a servicing unit.
A servicing unit may be defined as either a single local affiliate or a group of locals clustered to receive financial support.
Every 1,200 members will entitle a servicing unit to a UO contribution toward the cost of a full-time position, with that contribution prorated for a part-time position or for a position supporting fewer than 1,200 members.
The United Organization and state affiliates will jointly finance and administer the UO local staffing program, and the positions the United Organization helps fund will provide members the services essential to successful local advocacy.
An individual holding a position supported by the UO local staffing program will perform such services as:
Organizing new members, retaining current members, and creating volunteer opportunities to serve members and the community.
Helping members develop professionally and building community support for initiatives to improve the quality of education.
Representing members in negotiations and other interactions between labor and management as well as keeping members informed about local activities.
Facilitating cooperation among members and providing the training necessary to help affiliates function more effectively.
Building the systems and providing the training necessary to support political candidates and legislation at the local, state, and national levels.
Individuals in positions supported by United Organization funding may be either professional staff or release-time officers.
The total number of positions supported through the NEA UniServ program and the AFT Organizational Assistance Program will continue to be supported and maintained in the United Organization.
Former AFT affiliates qualifying for United Organization assistance will retain the option of using release-time officers, professional staff, or some combination of the two for all positions.
Both former AFT and NEA affiliates may fill new positions created by membership growth within a state with either professional staff or release-time officers.
Local affiliates that meet basic qualifying criteria can receive United Organization support for administering and funding their own local service programs.
To qualify, a local must have a number of members to be determined, total dues that at least equal the average dues of all locals in the state, and an automatic dues escalator that raises total dues to include state and national dues increases.
A qualifying local must also engage in labor relations advocacy and support members in their efforts to develop professionally and improve the quality of education.
Finally, a local must be willing to take part in leadership and staff development training provided at the state and national level, be available to assist other affiliates, and conduct periodic evaluations of its servicing program.
State affiliates will provide financial support that allows locals to participate in the program and will monitor use of this assistance.
The Executive Board of the United Organization will employ an UO executive director.
This individual, who will be recommended to the Executive Board by the UO president, will work under the president's direction, and will supervise UO staff.
The United Organization values the experience and contributions of current national AFT and NEA staff and is committed to utilizing their skills and knowledge to benefit all UO members.
United Organization national dues will be set by a formula that generates the revenue adequate to support the services members need.
National dues in the United Organization will be comparable to the national dues that would have been in place if the AFT and NEA had remained separate organizations.
State and local UO affiliates will set their own dues levels, as they do now within both the AFT and NEA.

Principle Six

The United Organization will foster diversity.

No institution in American life can do more to build respect for diversity than public education. The United Organization will strive to become a model for the nation that educators are working to create. Toward that end:

The United Organization will maintain "and work to expand" current AFT and NEA levels of minority representation throughout leadership, governance, and staff.
The United Organization will promote programs and adopt policies designed to involve ethnic minority members in UO activities and decision making.
United Organization governing bodies will be expandable, a capability that will make possible enhanced ethnic minority representation.
The United Organization will adopt an employment program designed to recruit and employ ethnic minority staff members at all levels of the organization.

Principle Seven

The United Organization will work for a strong, democratic, and effective labor movement.

The well-being of America's children and families demands the economic and social justice that only a strong, democratic labor movement can provide. The United Organization shall be committed to building an effective, modern labor presence in American life. Toward that end:

The United Organization will be a national affiliate of the AFL-CIO.
The United Organization will work to build a strong, unified labor movement and endeavor to strengthen organized labor at the national, state, and local levels.
The United Organization's initial affiliation with the national AFL-CIO will be based on 1.4 million members, a level that will make the United Organization the largest single affiliate within the AFL-CIO.
The United Organization will make per capita payments to the national AFL-CIO for the UO's national affiliation.
Once affiliates of the United Organization affiliate 1.4 million members with state AFL-CIO bodies, the membership base for determining the United Organization's national AFL-CIO affiliation will rise annually by the number of members newly affiliated and by increases in the membership already affiliated with state AFL-CIO organizations.
The United Organization's goal will be full affiliation with the AFL-CIO at every level.
The United Organization will provide educational materials and programs that encourage local and state affiliates to affiliate fully with state and local AFL-CIO bodies.
State affiliates of the United Organization will determine their own relationship with the AFL-CIO.
A state may affiliate its entire membership with the state AFL-CIO organization and make per capita payments for these members.
If a state affiliate does not fully affiliate with the state AFL-CIO organization, individual locals within the state could affiliate with the state AFL-CIO.
At the local level, affiliation with local AFL-CIO organizations will remain the decision of local affiliates of the United Organization.
State and local UO affiliates that are affiliated with AFL-CIO state and local organizations will make per capita payments to the appropriate AFL-CIO body.
To affiliate with the AFL-CIO, a current or former NEA state affiliate must first unify with the current or former AFT state affiliate.
To affiliate with the AFL-CIO, a current or former NEA local in a jurisdiction with an AFT affiliate must unite with its AFT counterpart.
In states with more than one UO state affiliate, no former NEA local in a jurisdiction where there is no AFT counterpart may affiliate with the AFL-CIO without the agreement of the former AFT state affiliate.
The United Organization will resolve any disputes between state and local affiliates over AFL-CIO affiliation.
All affiliates of the United Organization that were AFL-CIO affiliates before the AFT and NEA unite will remain affiliated with the AFL-CIO at all levels.

Principle Eight

The United Organization unification process will involve members and respect the past.The launching of a new national organization must actively involve the men and women AFT and NEA members have elected to represent them. The United Organization will be created through a process that respects the democratic traditions and heritage of both organizations. Toward that end:

The adoption of these Principles of Unity by delegates to the 1998 AFT Convention and NEA Representative Assembly will constitute a formal commitment to create a United Organization.
After this vote, the AFT and NEA will continue to operate separately until the United Organization formally comes into existence.
During this period, existing AFT and NEA state affiliates will be free to unite, provided the AFT and NEA approve these mergers.
Upon the adoption of these Principles of Unity, the AFT and NEA will create a broadly representative joint committee to draft both a Constitution and Bylaws for the United Organization and a Unification Agreement.
The proposed Constitution and Bylaws will reflect these Principles of Unity and define the specific structures, operations, and name of the United Organization.
The proposed Unification Agreement will define the specific organizational and procedural steps necessary to make the United Organization operational.
In 1999 "or 2000 at the latest" AFT Convention and NEA Representative Assembly delegates will vote on the proposed UO Constitution, Bylaws, and Unification Agreement.
In either 2000 or 2001, depending on whether the Constitution, Bylaws, and Unification Agreement are adopted in 1999 or 2000, the United Organization will hold its founding convention and become operational under the three-year interim governance structure established by the Constitution, Bylaws, and Unification Agreement.
At the time the United Organization becomes operational, the NEA and AFT presidents will serve as founding presidents, with the NEA president assuming the duties of president and the AFT president assuming the duties of executive vice-president.
The interim Executive Board will include seven national officers and 30 additional members, 15 each from the AFT and NEA.
The Unification Agreement will include the names of the interim national officers and the other interim Executive Board members.
The interim Leadership Council will include all interim Executive Board members, all state affiliate presidents, all presidents of local affiliates with 2,500 members or more, representatives from constituency groups, and members elected at-large from the states, with the proviso that, during the interim period only, all members serving on both the AFT Executive Council and the NEA Board of Directors at the time the United Organization becomes operational will be incorporated into the states' total at-large delegate allocation.
During the interim period only, the national officers, other Executive Board members, and Leadership Council members will serve three-year terms.
In 2003 or 2004, the interim period will end, and the United Organization will begin operations under the regular provisions established in the Constitution and Bylaws.
At this time, delegates to the United Organization convention will elect all Executive Board members, including the seven national officers, to four-year terms, and the other Leadership Council members will begin their terms under the appropriate provisions in the Constitution and Bylaws. (1998)

(1998)