That's because five separate proposals on state-level mergers won approval in the representative assembly of the NEA at its annual convention recently in Orlando, Florida. The delegates thereby approved a change in NEA bylaws to create blueprints for state-level mergers.
Mergers are most likely to begin in New Mexico and Montana.
The Minnesota and Florida mergers are permitted, however, under the new NEA guidelines, which are to take effect in September. NEA delegates decided, however, that former AFT members in Minnesota must pay dues to both the NEA and AFT for all of 1998-99. Delegates narrowly rejected a proposal to waive the NEA dues for July and August for those Minnesota teachers who formerly belonged only to the Minnesota AFT affiliate. The guidelines were assembled through an NEA member survey. Education USA , July 12, 1999.