How to use this toolkit
- Learn how to communicate about union membership and the meaningful changes won by educators in your area and across the country.
- Access key resources that highlight the power of the union, including information on pension, student debt, healthcare, and more.
- Find videos, graphics, and downloadable posters to help you spread the word about your membership drive.
Talking About Your Union
Talking About Your Union
Thank you for taking the time to help build a stronger union. As you engage with potential members you might encounter some tough questions. This section will help you start recruitment conversations and navigate those questions while highlighting all that educators are achieving at the local, state, and national levels.
Anyone can now join the union straight from their phone! Have them text JOIN to 48744 to get started.
Transformational Organizing Conversations
Joining adds your voice to thousands of educators just like us across the state and millions of educators across the country to accomplish things one educator, one bus driver, one janitor, or even one district can’t.
As a union, we regularly meet with school administrators, school boards, and lawmakers from both major political parties to advocate for higher wages, better benefits, and improved working conditions for educators.
When educators are heard, respected, and given the resources we need, we can give students our very best.
Great educators create great public schools. Your union is here to help you get the training, tools, and community support you need to engage students, advance education justice, and excel in your profession.
When we speak up as part of our local union, we can advocate for significant changes like increased salaries or cost-of-living adjustments. Additionally, we have already secured improved health care benefits, comprehensive student loan forgiveness and repayment programs, and discounts on school-related items—things that improve our daily lives as educators.
We’re making progress, but, with more members like you, we can have an even stronger voice.
Understanding Your Union
Better Pay and Benefits
Professional Growth
Our Collective Voice
Find Your Place in the Union
Whether it's your nature speak up loudly or work behind the scenes quietly, our union is made up of many different types of activists. Take our short quiz to find out what kind of changemaker you are.
Conversation Starters
Year-Round Organizing Cards
The Year-Round Organizing card is an important tool for gathering the contact information of educators who are interested in learning about or getting more involved in the union. When educators fill out the card, they will receive opportunities that:
- Support educators to grow in their professional practice.
- Help elect pro-public education candidates from both parties.
- Get the word out about ways to work together to improve working conditions.
- Work to increase education funding at your school, district and state.
Every state has their own Year-Round Organizing card. Text CONNECT to 48744 to be connect directly with your state.
Spread the Word!
Share these Messages
By banding together, NEA members impact meaningful change for educators and students.
Sign up to receive more information, opportunities involved, and monthly resources for your career and classroom: join.nea.org/connect/
Dear [Insert Name],
When educators are heard, respected, and given the resources we need, we can give students our very best. As part of the largest labor union in the country, with almost three million members, we work together to ensure that educators like you have a stronger voice.
- We regularly advocate for higher salaries and improved working conditions.
- We meet with lawmakers from both political parties to make sure our voices are being heard and respected.
- We work hand in hand with school administrators and school boards to improve our daily lives as educators.
- We make sure that educators have the resources we need to give students our best.
By filling out this form, you'll gain access to monthly resources for your classroom and opportunities to get involved with educators at the local, state, and national level.
We cannot thank you enough for all you do, and all you will do, to change the lives of your students. Please let me know if you have any questions about our union or how you can get involved.
In solidarity,
[Insert Your Name]
Educators are the best advocates for our schools, our students & ourselves. Sign up to learn more about NEA & our community: join.nea.org/connect/
Show Your Union Pride
Show Your Union Pride
Share these videos and graphics with your friends and colleagues to spread the word about the ways membership makes public education stronger.
Share on Social Media
Share At Your Event
Share at School
When more educators join our union, we will have an even stronger voice to improve our daily lives and the lives of our students.
Have the conversation with your colleagues today!
Learn More
Use Your Educator Voice.
