NEA/NY Joins Larger State United Teachers

NEA/NY Joins Larger State United Teachers

By HOWARD MEGDAL

Delegates from the 525,000-member New York State United Teachers and the 35,000-member National Education Association of New York voted last week to merge, creating a single entity to represent the two unions beginning Sept. 1.

RICHARD IANNUZZI: 'A unified voice.' "This is a wonderful advance for our members, students and schools," Robin Rapaport, president of NEA/NY, said after his delegates' vote. "We will have a stronger, more united voice on education issues in Albany, and our members will have access to new resources and programs available through NYSUT."

Two Years to Complete

The negotiations took more than two years to complete and were complicated by lingering unhappiness over a failed attempt to merge the NEA and the American Federation of Teachers, NYSUT's parent organization, in 1998. "We were delighted that we could work through some of those difficulties," NEA/NY Vice President Matt Jacobs said in a May 3 phone interview. "We're thrilled."

NEA/NY's delegates voted 463 to 124 in favor of the merger. Among the benefits of partnering with NYSUT are access to the larger union's tuition reduction program, which offers reduced rates to many members attending graduate school, an extensive leadership training program, and NYSUT's political presence in Albany.

"There isn't any secret that NYSUT is one of the most effective and influential lobbying groups in the state," Mr. Jacobs said. "Adding that clout will help getting problems addressed."

NYSUT Advantages

As for the benefits to NYSUT, Mr. Jacobs pointed out that the move "unites all of New York's education employees under one flag" and gives NYSUT a closer relationship with the national NEA, which has significantly more members than the AFT.

"In addition, though we're much smaller, a lot of things in our culture will crosspollinate with things in NYSUT's culture, and be beneficial for everyone," he said.

NYSUT President Richard Iannuzzi praised his delegates' decision to approve the merger by acclamation May 5.

"New York will have one statewide union ... and an even more vital voice for students in every school district in the state," Mr. Iannuzzi said in a statement.