It often evades the identity as a union choosing rather to be recognized as a professional organization. The group is known to vigorously fight competition and generally challenges any prospect of educational reform that increases teacher accountability.
The organization boasts a membership base of more than 2.7 million nationally and controls better than $343 million in receipts. They actively participate in numerous non-educational, political initiatives funded directly from forced dues paid by their members. Some of these representations include:
- Rainbow/Push Coalition
- Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network
- Democratic Leadership Council
- Fund to Protect Social Security
- People for American Way
- Alliance for Nevada's Working Families
In 2006, the union spent roughly $65.5 million to fund left-leaning organization such as these. This despite reports that only 45% of the membership base identifies itself as liberal.
The NEA employs about 886 employees nationally and of these, 443 earn more than $75,000 in annual compensation. NEA bigwigs, such as NEA President Reg Weaver, Exective Director John Wilson, Secretary/Treasurer Lily Eskelsen, Vice-President Dennis Van Roekel and Regional Director Joann Waller all earn compensation above the $300,000 mark: $417,858; $351,803; $337,867; $329,045 and $314,790 respectively. Most of the inflated income comes from a 2004 pay increase in which some employees received as much as a 106% pay increase on the backs of the membership.
In most cases, unions use 527 organizations to make unlimited "soft money" donations to campaigns or candidates they support. Unlike PACs, 527 organizations do not coordinate with specific candidates, and as a result, are not regulated by the Federal Election Commission. At last report, the NEA has shoveled out more than $7 million in “527” disbursements.
The union has received numerous Unfair Labor Practices filings and in 2006 received a total of 36 through the National Labor Relations Board. The greatest number of allegations filed addressed issues of “Duty of Fair Representation” with a total of 8 allegations. Other allegations include areas that address the refusal to furnish information, bypassing union, refusal to bargain and discipline.
