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Job & Career Security

No matter their age, from Pre-K to higher ed, our students benefit when all educators—janitorial staff, paraeducators, and college professors alike—are treated like the professionals they are.
Teacher and paraeducator team

From Phoenix to Fargo, we all want our schools to be safe environments that foster learning and creativity.  

For primary and secondary schools, this means students have:

  • safe, reliable transportation to and from school,  
  • a healthy, nutritious meal, and  
  • clean classrooms.  

And for students in postsecondary schools, it means ensuring academic freedom.

But unfortunately, some greedy politicians tighten school budgets to pay for tax cuts for their wealthy donors. This forces administration officials to cut corners by privatizing services like buses, janitorial duties, and food service. When this happens, the school and community lose control and employees often lose rights, pay, and benefits. In the end students lose the most.

We are coming together to fight privatization and ensure job and career security for all educators.

In postsecondary environments, institutions are increasingly using part-time faculty, misusing temporary or “rolling” contracts, extending probationary periods, and establishing tenure quotas. These anti-tenure practices are dangerous to academic freedom, and again, ultimately hurt student learning.  

We are coming together to fight privatization and ensure job and career security for all educators.

  • Affiliate staff can advise you and stand with you to defend yourself with full access to all the legal and liability protections afforded to NEA members—this includes providing legal assistance if warranted.  
  • NEA’s Educators Employment Liability program protects all association members—whether classroom teachers or support professionals—from personal financial liability for most incidents arising out of their educational employment activities or duties. The program is a benefit of membership and there for you if you need it.  

If you are faced with an action related to your employment—suspension, termination, disciplinary action, transfers, certificate revocation, lawsuit by student or parent, job-related or Department of Human Resources charges—the first and immediate action is to contact your local UniServ Director.

Need Assistance?

NEA provides ongoing support for local and state affiliates facing privatization, including preventative measures and crisis campaigns. Let us know how we can help!
Ashanti Rankin
When I first got involved with my union, I quickly learned how the union supports education support professionals, like me. NEA’s ESP Growth Continuum, for example, creates a pathway for growth where I’m able to master my profession—and remain in it.
Quote by: Ashanti Rankin, Middle School Paraprofessional, New Jersey Education Association

Bargaining for the Common Good

Together, we can improve student learning and the educational environment, like smaller class size, fewer standardized tests, more recess and art and music classes, and additional counselors.
National Education Association

Great public schools for every student

The National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA's 3 million members work at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.