Your Back to School Union Checklist

Your first week's lesson plans are perfect. Your bulletin boards look great. Now it's time to grow your union power! More educators join NEA during the back-to-school season than any other time of the year-and a bigger union means a stronger voice for educators. Take these steps to build your team, flex your union muscles, and grow your union!

Build your Team

Identify your site representative-also known as a building or union rep or steward. Say hi! And mark your calendar for the next building or site meeting.

Introduce yourself to your new hall or department colleagues. Make them feel welcome! Attend a new-hire event and see how you can support incoming staff.

Join you online community. Find your local, state, and national unions on social media-and follow them.

Flex your Muscle

Everyone has a role to play in our unions. Not sure where you fit in? Take this fun and easy quiz.

Read your union contract. Circle parts you have questions about and meet with your union rep to learn more.

Show that you are a union member. Get an awesome poster for your classroom. And wear your local union T-shirt-you have a federally protected right to show that you're a union member.

Grow your Union

Take the next step. We build union power by increasing membership. Talk to your building rep about getting involved in back-to-school membership drives.

Use NEA organizing tools to anticipate common questions. For example: "Are you sure unions are legal here?" Answer: "Unions are legal everywhere! In states where we can't collectively bargain, we still meet as a union with lawmakers, school board members, and administrators from all political parties to talk about better pay and working conditions."

Text BACK2SCHOOL to 48744 for resources, including NEA's guide to transformational conversations.