Thank you to all the members who helped elect our delegation! Six members of the Rank and File Caucus attended the National Education Association’s annual Representative Assembly (RA) in order to organize with NEA members from across the country. Our delegates helped establish NEA Educators for Palestine in coordination with the NEA Arab American Caucus. Our delegation also learned lessons about union transparency and democracy relevant to our local here in Oakland. From the Grassroots OEA for Palestine formed shortly after last October, when the ongoing colonization and genocide against the Palestinian people escalated drastically. Last fall, hundreds of teachers attended rallies for an end to the war and held teach-ins on the situation in Palestine throughout the school district. Many faced personal harassment, were punished by OUSD, and have been branded as antisemitic (including Jewish educators). After our union’s Representative Council and Executive Board took positions supporting the Palestinian cause, caucus members attending the NEA RA felt we had the support of the local union behind us as we went to Philadelphia to build a bridge with fellow educators fighting for Palestine solidarity. At the Representative Assembly The assembly began in Philadelphia in July. We made connections with NEA members from Massachusetts, Texas, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, Indiana, North Carolina, Illinois and more, learning about their locals’ efforts for Palestine solidarity. Our delegation supported several pro-Palestine New Business Items at the RA that included the following:

• Hold a vote for all NEA members on whether to revoke NEA’s endorsement of Joe Biden until he stops funding/arming Israel
• Educate NEA members on the Nakba, and the difference between antisemitism vs. anti-Zionism, as well the definition of genocide Research and publish facts comparing US spending on public education with military spending, and facts about donations to US politicians by AIPAC and other pro-Israel lobbying groups
• Protect and legally defend members who teach about Palestine

NEASO Strike Adjourns Assembly NEA’s staff union, the NEASO, had been in negotiations with the NEA under President Becky Pringle for months over salaries and working conditions. With the threat of a NEASO strike, at the end of Day 1, President Pringle moved to suspend the rules and allow the NEA board to decide on NBIs in the event of a strike. After NEASO declared a strike on the second day of the RA, the assembly was effectively adjourned.

As members of the Rank and File Caucus, we took a position of solidarity with the striking NEASO workers, despite the inconvenience to the NEA RA and despite concerns raised by NEA and CTA leadership about NEASO’s strategy. Along with most of OEA’s delegation, we made sure to go out to the picket line and express our support and solidarity with the NEA staff. More information can be found in the full report on our website: rankandfilecaucus.wordpress.com.

Despite the unexpected halt of NEA proceedings, we set our sights on continuing to build the antiwar movement in Oakland and across the nation.

The antiwar struggle continues and we invite you to join us!