‘An injury to one is an injury to all.’
I can honestly state that I have never been prouder to be
the president of Missouri NEA than at the April 19th meeting
of the 2009 Spring Representative Assembly as delegates debated
and discussed a resolution in support of the Lindbergh NEA.
Our MNEA local in Lindbergh, an organization that has collaboratively
bargained a contract with its school board since 1967, has
now been denied the right to bargain many of the issues related
to working conditions. Although the board offered a small
raise to the employees, that carrot was in exchange for giving
up the right to bargain their working conditions, which we
know are also their students’ learning conditions.
The resolution brought to our delegates on that rainy Sunday
morning not only declared support for our members, but also
condemned the actions of the Lindbergh school board, urging
the Lindbergh board members to keep faith with their oath
of office and to uphold and defend the Missouri Constitution.
We were one body with one purpose—to support members
in our sister local. It did not make a difference if we came
from large or small locals, rural or suburban, Kansas City
or St. Louis. We understood that an injury to one was an injury
to all and that if a board of education in a St. Louis suburban
school district could ignore the Missouri Constitution, other
school boards across the state would be inclined to do the
same. The R.A. vote for the resolution was unanimous, followed
by a motion and vote to send the resolution to Missouri media
outlets, another unanimous decision.
Why was this action such an exciting event at the
RA?
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Our delegates proved their ownership in an organization
whose sole purpose for existence is the advocacy for great
public schools for every child.
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Our delegates embraced their responsibility to speak
up—and speak out—for public education.
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Our delegates demonstrated that Association membership
isn’t something they buy. It’s not a service
or a product. It’s the belief that, together, when
we improve our working conditions, we improve our students’
learning conditions.
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Our delegates discussed the issue of other groups who
seek to weaken our voice. These groups deliberately misinform
the public about the bargaining process and fear its implementation
– either because they fear they will lose members
or lose power.
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Our delegates maintained our core values in their words
and actions—a just society, democracy, professionalism,
partnerships and collective action.
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Our delegates verified that they understand our students
deserve smaller classes, safe and modern schools, and
access to effective books, materials and technology –
and that bargaining is a way to achieve those goals.
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Our delegates confirmed that they understand public
schools in Missouri—and in this nation—have
never been given anything. Whether it’s protecting
tenure, improving salaries, reducing class sizes, or increasing
school funding, at the heart of those battles has always
been Association members, standing together shoulder-to-shoulder
to fight for what’s right for public schools.
As you end this school year, I want to thank you for what
you accomplish in your schools every day as you work to make
our public schools great for every child. I also want to thank
the R.A. delegates for their thoughtfulness in representing
members across the state.
We stood together that morning and showed that we understand
and appreciate the power and the advantages of being union
members. We demonstrated that we truly understood that an
injury to one is an injury to all.
by Chris
Guinther
MNEA president
sb,
summer '09
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