1	NEAFT MERGER CAUCUS AN ON-LINE PRESENTATION at www.neaft.org DEDICATED TO BUILDING THE UNION OF THE NEA AND AFT
2	WHAT DO THE MEMBERS OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE IN COMMON? NEW YORK STATE MONTANA LOS ANGELES SAN FRANCISCO FLORIDA AUSTIN WITCHITA RIO RANCHO SAN ANTONIO MINNESOTA
3	THEY’RE ALL MERGED! THEIR MEMBERS BELONG TO THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. THEIR MEMBERS BELONG TO THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS. THEIR MEMBERS BELONG TO THE AFL-CIO.
4	THINK ABOUT THE FOLLOWING: 1 – Over 50% of the members of the AFT are also members of the NEA. 2 – Today nearly 1/3 of the NEA membership are dues-paying members of the AFL-CIO.
5	THE SILENCE OF A CLAM HOW ARE THE MERGED AFFILIATES DOING? WHAT DO THEIR MEMBERS THINK ABOUT THEIR MERGERS?
6	THE SILENCE OF A CLAM UNLESS YOU ARE A MEMBER OF A MERGED AFFILIATE, YOU PROBABLY HAVE NO IDEA HOW THEY ARE DOING.
7	THE SILENCE OF A CLAM THE NEA PRESS IS SILENT ABOUT MERGERS. THE AFT PRESS IS SILENT. AFL-CIO IS ALMOST SILENT.
8	THE SILENCE OF A CLAM ISN’T IT STRANGE THAT ABOUT ONE MILLION, ONE MILLION, UNION MEMBERS BELONG TO MERGED AFFILIATES OF THE NEA AND AFT AND NEITHER ORGANIZATION SAYS ANYTHING ABOUT THEM?
9	Why A Merger Caucus? THE NEAFT Merger Caucus was formed : 1 – To provide a forum for merged affiliates to meet. 2 – To provide a vehicle for the members of unmerged affiliates to learn about the benefits of merger
10	Why A Merger Caucus? 3 – To develop and implement a strategy for building a merger of the NEA and AFT from the ground up, from member to local, from locals to state affiliates to a full-fledged national merger of the NEA and AFT.
11	Merged states have found… 1 – That the things that have kept them apart are insignificant to the things they have in common. 2 – That there are huge advantages to speaking with one powerful, harmonious voice.
12	Merged states have found… 3 – That the time, energy and resources that once went into defending against each other are now put to the common good. 4 – That they are no longer played off against each other by political elites who promote our disunity
13	Merged states have found… 5 – That they can come together, protect the interests of their staffs yet still save members’ dues dollars over time. 6 - That they are much better prepared with talent, money and other resources to confront the education issues before us.
14	What can you do? 1 – Join the NEAFT Merger Caucus 2 – Talk about the desirability of a national merger with your colleagues at work and at union meetings. a) Get the subject on your local’s agenda. 3 – If your state organization is not yet merged, start talking to people about creating a state merger. a) Reach out to the membership of the NEAFT Merger Caucus for expert assistance. Our membership reaches coast to coast.
15	What can you do? 4 – Let our NEA and AFT national leaders know that you expect them to be working towards a merger of the NEA and AFT.