The War on the NEA-Why Teachers Need to Make Unions a Priority...NOW!

The latest attacks on the National Education Association (NEA) are loud, dramatic, and designed to distract. This isn't just about teachers. It's about every working American who's ever dared to ask for a fair shake.

Groups like Moms for Liberty aren't just mad about lesson plans. They're mad about power. And they see the NEA for what it really is: the largest labor union in the country, representing millions of educators who aren’t afraid to organize, speak up, and fight back.

And that’s terrifying, if your game plan is to divide and conquer.

But let’s rewind for a moment and talk about why unions even exist in the first place, why the NEA is so effective, and why this fight isn’t just about teachers. It’s about all of us.

Born Out of Fire and Grit

Before there were contracts and benefits and sick leave, there were 12-hour shifts, child labor, and company stores that kept workers in lifelong debt. Back then, if you got hurt on the job, you were replaced. If you complained, you were blacklisted.

Enter unions, a radical idea that maybe, just maybe, workers should have some say in their own survival.

Think of early labor movements like the real-life version of David vs. Goliath, except David was armed with picket signs and Goliath owned the coal mine, the newspaper, and the police.

And yet, somehow, the Davids won. They marched, organized, and negotiated for the basics we take for granted today: weekends, overtime pay, safety standards. Unions didn't just raise wages, they raised the bar.

In the 1930s, auto workers in Flint, Michigan, launched a sit-down strike against General Motors. GM tried to evict them, cut their heat, and even send in the National Guard. The workers’ response? They played cards, sang songs, and stood their ground. After 44 days, GM caved. It was the beginning of the United Auto Workers, and a turning point for labor rights nationwide.

Moral of the story? Sometimes you win not by shouting, but by refusing to move.

In Kentucky, the word "union" often comes with baggage. We're a right-to-work state, which sounds friendly but really means "right to work for less." There's been a calculated effort to make unions sound shady, corrupt, or overly political.

But in truth, unions are just groups of people who refuse to go it alone.

Boone County is one of the last school districts in Kentucky that still recognizes its teachers association, not technically a union under state law, but it walks and talks like one. And unlike in many parts of the state, Boone still has a collective bargaining agreement in place.

That used to be common. Now it's rare. And that should scare all of us.

Not the Boogeyman, But the Backbone

The National Education Association, founded in 1857, started with a simple idea: kids deserve good schools, and teachers deserve respect.

Fast-forward to today: the NEA represents over 3 million educators, teachers, bus drivers, librarians, cafeteria workers, counselors. They work in every kind of school, in every kind of place.

They've fought for:

• Child labor laws (you know, so kids could go to school instead of working in factories)

• School desegregation (yes, they were on the right side of history)

• Title IX protections (you’re welcome, women in sports)

• IDEA protections for students with disabilities

• Safe schools, mental health resources, and yes, fair pay

One school board tried to end collective bargaining by scheduling contract negotiations at 3 a.m. The teachers showed up in pajamas, with coffee and donuts, and livestreamed the whole thing. The public backlash was so fierce the board backed off within a week.

Turns out, messing with teachers before sunrise is a risky move.

Moms for Liberty: Fear Mongering in High Heels

Moms for Liberty claim they're fighting for parental rights. But take a closer look and you’ll see what they’re really doing:

• Banning books by Black and LGBTQ+ authors

• Targeting inclusive history as "critical race theory"

• Accusing teachers of "grooming"

• Demanding control over classrooms while knowing nothing about education

And now, they’re going after the NEA. Because they know that when educators are united, they're unstoppable.

This Matters to Everyone (Yes, Even You, Uncle Bob)

This isn't just a teacher issue. When you weaken unions, you weaken working-class power. And when educators lose their voice, so do students, parents, and communities.

If you're a moderate, independent, or even a conservative who believes in fair play and local control, this matters to you. Because today it's teachers. Tomorrow it's firefighters, nurses, or anyone who dares to speak up.

Educators aren’t asking for luxury. they’re asking for a living wage, safe schools, and the freedom to teach truth. If that’s too radical, then we’ve got bigger problems.

If you’re an educator and your district has an association, join it. Right now. Your voice is needed.

If your district doesn’t have one, start talking to your colleagues. Get organized. Reach out to KEA. Learn the process. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary.

Because the numbers matter. Solidarity matters. And the only way to beat extremists with loud mouths and deep pockets is with louder unity and deeper roots.

We are not just fighting for better contracts. We’re fighting for the soul of public education. And that is worth every meeting, every phone call, every picket sign, and every pajama-clad 3 a.m. negotiation.

Let them call it radical. We call it righteous.

Now get to work. Together.