Thousands of educators will meet in Minneapolis over the coming days after an impressive springtime showing of grass-roots power by teachers — and then a gut-punch from the nation's highest court.
This week's U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing government employees to pass on paying money to unions that negotiate their contracts could result in the National Education Association (NEA) losing tens of millions of dollars annually.
As association members gather at the Minneapolis Convention Center for an annual meeting that begins Saturday, teachers are trying build on past successes and cement the Twin Cities as a center for training labor negotiators and activists.
"Our members are coming in wanting to be part of a movement — and a part of something better," St. Paul Federation President Nick Faber said.
The NEA event follows a sudden wave of activism that had rank-and-file teachers across the country sounding familiar themes.
In February, the St. Paul union pushed the state's second-largest district to the brink of a strike with demands that included a call for the district to join the federation in pressuring corporations and nonprofits that benefit from tax breaks or their tax-exempt status to contribute to schools.
Then came the so-called "Red for Ed" walkouts by teachers in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Arizona, Colorado and North Carolina — including a push by protesters in two states to force the wealthy to pay more taxes. Teachers received pay increases, and sent a message about public schools being underfunded.
"These were states where teachers were told there's no money, but by taking public action, they've shown there's a way to win," Keith Brown, the newly elected president of the Oakland Education Association, said Friday. He participated in the St. Paul Institute a year ago and has been in Minneapolis this week for the NEA assembly.