Hillary Clinton to speak at the NEA convention. Will she also speak at the AFT convention later in the month?
One of the many posters and other materials distributed by the nation's two teacher unions in support of Hillary Clinton. Both the NEA and AFT leadership groups committed their unions to the Clinton candidacy in October 2015, despite the fact that a large percentage of the unions' members supported Bernie Sanders and the fact that Hillary Clinton has long been identified with the teacher bashing and union busting "education reform" plans of former President Bill Clinton. The prospective presidential nominee of the Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton, will speak at the "Representative Assembly" ("RA"), the convention of the National Education Association, next week. The NEA announced the Clinton speech in a press release on June 29, 2016. Ms. Clinton is scheduled to speak to the 7,500 delegates to the convention on July 5, 2016. In its press release, the NEA noted that they had endorsed Hillary for the Democratic Party nomination in October 2015.
The Executive Council of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) did likewise at the same time, angering many AFT leaders and delegates (including this reporter). The NEA convention will take place beginning July 4 in Washington D.C. The AFT convention will be held beginning July 17 in Minneapolis.
NEA PRESS RELEASE:
Hillary Clinton to Address NEA Representative Assembly
Presumptive Democratic Nominee will deliver remarks to annual gathering of 7,500 educators
WASHINGTON― Secretary Hillary Clinton, presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee, will address more than 7,500 delegates at the National Education Association’s 95th Representative Assembly (RA) in Washington, DC on Tuesday, July 5, 2016. In October, NEA educators recommended Secretary Clinton in the Democratic Primary.
The RA is the top decision-making body for the nearly 3 million-member NEA, and sets Association policy for the coming year. Delegates adopt the strategic plan and budget, resolutions, the legislative program, and other policies of the Association. Delegates also vote on proposed amendments to the NEA’s Constitution and Bylaws. NEA’s RA is the world’s largest democratic deliberative body.
NEA is the nation’s largest labor union, with its members representing one in every 58 general election voters. NEA households represent one in every 32 voters nationwide. NEA member households will be a robust and significant voting bloc during this fall’s election.
WHO: Hillary Clinton, Presumptive Democratic Nominee
Lily Eskelsen García, NEA President
WHAT: Will address delegates to the NEA’s 95th Representative Assembly
WHERE: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Place NW, Washington, DC 20001
WHEN: Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Preset: AM, time TBD
Remarks: AM, time TBD.
