NEA and AFT MERGER

TO: Dennis Van Roekel, President NEA

Randi Weingarten, President AFT

We the undersigned members of the National Education Association (NEA) and/or the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) recognize that:

1 – Our members are under attack as never before by a coalition of forces who capitalize on the fact that our two unions sometimes have differing positions on issues facing us;

2 – A merged NEA and AFT would be better able to confront the forces against us with the power and resources of over four million members;

3- Four million members will be able to speak to power in one clear, determined, voice;

4 – Four million members working in concert will be able to challenge the political status quo;

5 – The examples of the already merged affiliates teaches us that while the NEA and AFT clearly have different histories, there is much more that unites our members than separates us;

6 – Our members, students and communities will be better served when we unite in defense of public education.

We, therefore, call upon you to lead the memberships of the NEA and the AFT to unite our two unions - to merge them into one great education union ready and able to defend public education, our students and our members.