MEA-MFT
Encyclopedia
MEA-MFT is a labor union
in the state of Montana
in the United States
. Its 17,000 members make it the largest union in the state.
MEA-MFT is primarily an education union, with most of its members being teachers, paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel. The union also represents large numbers of faculty in the state's public higher education system, and a wide variety of workers in state government ranging from accountants to foresters to health care workers. The union also represents a small number of health care workers in the private sector.
(NEA), and the Montana Federation of Teachers (MFT), an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers
(AFT). The two unions had long been rivals, with MEA organizing teachers in most of the state's large cities and MFT organizing teachers and other education workers in small towns and rural counties as well as state workers and higher education.
The two unions began a closer, cooperative working relationship in 1990 when MEA president Eric Feaver and MFT president Jim McGarvey jointly accused the Montana Lottery
of failing to deliver on promises to improve teacher retirement benefits in the state. From 1991 to 1993, the unions expanded their cooperative efforts into the legislative field, jointly endorsing candidates and winning passage of a number of important pieces of legislation.
In 1993, the unions held their first joint professional development conference. A year later, the unions merged their locals in Missoula
as an experiment and trial run for a possible statewide merger. With the backing of AFT president Albert Shanker
and NEA president Keith Geiger, the MFT approved a resolution expressing its intent to merge in 1996. MEA followed suit a year later, and a joint merger committee was established to write a constitution develop transition procedures.
In 1998, national merger between the AFT and NEA seemed imminent. While the AFT executive council approved the merger, delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly failed to approve merger by the necessary two-thirds majority. This appeared to imperil the MEA-MFT merger, but Feaver and McGarvey declared their intention to merge regardless of what the parent bodies' said. The NEA and AFT quickly established national guidelines for state and local level mergers, with the MEA-MFT merger providing the first test case.
In 1999, the unions merged their political action committees and staff.
From March 31 to April 1, 2000, 400 MEA and MFT delegates met in Helena
to approve the merger, establish a dues structure, and finalize a budget for the new merged organization. Officers were elected in May.
The merged entity's first president was Feaver, and the first vice president McGarvey.
In 2001, the MEA-MFT—representing 61 percent of the votes in the Montana AFL-CIO—threw its support behind Montana AFL-CIO president Jerry Driscoll in his bid to unseat long-time incumbent Executive Secretary Don Judge. McGarvey succeeded Driscoll as president.
In 2005, MEA-MFT organized the faculty at Montana Tech, the last major institution of higher education in the state without a union.
In July 2006, Feaver was elected a vice president of the AFT. McGarvey had been a long-time AFT vice president as well as chair of the union's Federation of Public Employees division. Feaver's election by AFT delegates at the AFT's biennial convention continued to give MEA-MFT a voice in the national AFT.
(a power company; $146,494), the Montana Association of Realtors ($75,944), the Montana Association of Counties ($67,844), or the American Heart Association
($61,036).
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
in the state of Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its 17,000 members make it the largest union in the state.
MEA-MFT is primarily an education union, with most of its members being teachers, paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel. The union also represents large numbers of faculty in the state's public higher education system, and a wide variety of workers in state government ranging from accountants to foresters to health care workers. The union also represents a small number of health care workers in the private sector.
History
MEA-MFT was formed in 2000 by the merger of the two unions: The Montana Education Association (MEA), an affiliate of the National Education AssociationNational Education Association
The National Education Association is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become...
(NEA), and the Montana Federation of Teachers (MFT), an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers
American Federation of Teachers
The American Federation of Teachers is an American labor union founded in 1916 that represents teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; local, state and federal employees; higher education faculty and staff, and nurses and other healthcare professionals...
(AFT). The two unions had long been rivals, with MEA organizing teachers in most of the state's large cities and MFT organizing teachers and other education workers in small towns and rural counties as well as state workers and higher education.
The two unions began a closer, cooperative working relationship in 1990 when MEA president Eric Feaver and MFT president Jim McGarvey jointly accused the Montana Lottery
Montana Lottery
The Montana Lottery is run by the government of Montana. It is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association . The Montana Lottery has a large number of games, such as scratch tickets, Powerball, Hot Lotto, Wild Card 2, and Montana Cash....
of failing to deliver on promises to improve teacher retirement benefits in the state. From 1991 to 1993, the unions expanded their cooperative efforts into the legislative field, jointly endorsing candidates and winning passage of a number of important pieces of legislation.
In 1993, the unions held their first joint professional development conference. A year later, the unions merged their locals in Missoula
Missoula, Montana
Missoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area...
as an experiment and trial run for a possible statewide merger. With the backing of AFT president Albert Shanker
Albert Shanker
Albert Shanker was President of the United Federation of Teachers from 1964 to 1984 as well as President of the American Federation of Teachers from 1974 to 1997.-Early life:...
and NEA president Keith Geiger, the MFT approved a resolution expressing its intent to merge in 1996. MEA followed suit a year later, and a joint merger committee was established to write a constitution develop transition procedures.
In 1998, national merger between the AFT and NEA seemed imminent. While the AFT executive council approved the merger, delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly failed to approve merger by the necessary two-thirds majority. This appeared to imperil the MEA-MFT merger, but Feaver and McGarvey declared their intention to merge regardless of what the parent bodies' said. The NEA and AFT quickly established national guidelines for state and local level mergers, with the MEA-MFT merger providing the first test case.
In 1999, the unions merged their political action committees and staff.
From March 31 to April 1, 2000, 400 MEA and MFT delegates met in Helena
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
to approve the merger, establish a dues structure, and finalize a budget for the new merged organization. Officers were elected in May.
The merged entity's first president was Feaver, and the first vice president McGarvey.
In 2001, the MEA-MFT—representing 61 percent of the votes in the Montana AFL-CIO—threw its support behind Montana AFL-CIO president Jerry Driscoll in his bid to unseat long-time incumbent Executive Secretary Don Judge. McGarvey succeeded Driscoll as president.
In 2005, MEA-MFT organized the faculty at Montana Tech, the last major institution of higher education in the state without a union.
Leadership
The same year, McGarvey challenged Driscoll for leadership of the Montana AFL-CIO. Driscoll's tenure had been a rocky one. He had called for discussions which could lead to enactment of a state sales tax, and he had pushed the Montana AFL-CIO board of directors to join the Western Environmental Trade Association, a pro-development coalition at odds with environmental groups. One union had already disaffiliated from the state federation, and two more were threatening to do so. With MEA-MFT's backing McGarvey easily won election. He subsequently retired as MEA-MFT vice president in May 2006. Larry Nielson was elected as his replacement.In July 2006, Feaver was elected a vice president of the AFT. McGarvey had been a long-time AFT vice president as well as chair of the union's Federation of Public Employees division. Feaver's election by AFT delegates at the AFT's biennial convention continued to give MEA-MFT a voice in the national AFT.
Political participation
MEA-MFT is one of the most prominent political and lobbying forces in the state. The union spent over $148,082 in lobbying expenses during the state's 90-day legislative session in 2006. The union spent more than PPL MontanaPPL
PPL may refer to:* people* phospholipid * Pakistan Premier League, Pakistani soccer league* Pay per lead, method of marketing* Pontypool and New Inn railway station, Wales; National Rail station code PPL...
(a power company; $146,494), the Montana Association of Realtors ($75,944), the Montana Association of Counties ($67,844), or the American Heart Association
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
($61,036).