EIA has obtained a copy of a 10-page letter entitled "Draft AFT/NEA Principles of Unity" that was sent to all members of the NEA Board of Directors, state affiliate presidents and executive directors. The letter is dated March 11 and was distributed for discussion at yesterday's special NEA Board meeting. The letter spells out eight major principles for the "United Organization," with dozens of detailed descriptions of how the merged union will operate. 

According to the letter, "The only remaining issue on the negotiating table is the timeframe for the two organizations to begin a transition period, once the principles are adopted, that would end with the creation of a single new ‘United Organization'." The NEA/AFT leadership and staff that drafted the letter believe it will be "almost all the actual wording to be voted on by delegates to the 1998 NEA Representative Assembly and the 1998 AFT convention." 

The text of the letter is available via e-mail or fax by contacting the Education Intelligence Agency at 916- 422-4373. Fax 916-392-1482. E-mail EducIntel@aol.com.