Unexpected: Trouble In Paradise, National Teachers Union Broke

February 21, 2012

NEA Sends Older Employees Heading for the Exit

POSTED AT 5:17 PM ON FEBRUARY 21, 2012 BY MIKE ANTONUCCI

Two weeks ago, the Education Intelligence Agency reported on the financial difficulties faced by the National Education Association and its state affiliates. Now we have details of the corrective measures the union is taking at the national level to deal with persistent budget deficits.

NEA had already planned some cuts to close an estimated $17 million deficit, but evidently the union finds itself needing an additional $9.5 million to balance income with expenditures. Unfortunately, the union’s internal structure is not designed with swift and abrupt cost-cutting in mind. NEA has first transferred $1.9 million from its $3 million contingency fund into its general fund.

It is a measure of how serious the situation is that NEA executives see severe staff reductions as their only remaining option. NEA employees have been presented with an “exit program,” which is essentially an early retirement incentive. About 124 NEA staffers (out of about 580) are eligible to retire. The union is offering an additional 10 weeks of severance pay if they submit their paperwork by March 15. Most NEA employees are already guaranteed one week of severance pay for each year employed, up to 10.

Read more at Hot Air Green Room

WUPN: What does this say for the Wisconsin teachers union (WEAC) and the upcoming recall election against Scott Walker? Trouble in paradise. How Much will WEAC be able to give Falk for the election?