The Association of Field Service Employees (AFSE) is a union of employees within the National Education Association (NEA), the largest labor union in the United States. AFSE represents about 48 employees and is an affiliate of the National Staff Organization, a union of union staffers. 1
Activities
1987 Strike
In 1987, the Association of Field Service Employees held a three-day strike against the National Education Association. The strike was resolved with a new contract guaranteeing annual 5 percent pay raises over the next three years. 2
2014 Negotiations
In 2014, the Association of Field Service Employees nearly declared a strike against the National Education Association after its contract was allowed to expire. AFSE picketed NEA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. 3
In a public statement, AFSE criticized NEA executive director John Stocks: “We don’t think it’s too much to ask that a social justice champion like Mr. Stocks honor the employees and the members of the organization by encouraging his management team to end bullying and support basic union values.” 4
2023 Labor Dispute
In October 2023, the Association of Field Service Employees declared their willingness to go on strike against the NEA, after going without a contract since June 1. In July, a group of AFSE members protested outside the annual NEA Representative Assembly in Florida. The protesters were removed by security and a sheriff’s deputy. NEA members were reportedly told not to interact with the protesters. 5 6
In November, AFSE authorized a strike against NEA. 7 8
On November 10th, the executive committee of the National Staff Organization voted to impose sanctions on NEA for failing to reach an agreement with AFSE. 9
On November 16th, NEA unilaterally locked out NFSE staff. The lockout lasted one day. 10
AFSE is demanding higher wages to catch up with inflation, which the AFSE’s leadership characterizes as the same benefits that NEA is fighting for in its work. AFSE argues that over the past decade, inflation has reduced its members’ wages by 25 percent while cost-of-living wage increases have only boosted wages by 5 percent. 11 12
AFSE is also demanding faster salary increases which lags comparable NEA leadership pay scales. 13 14
AFSE has accused NEA of bargaining in bad faith, refusal or delay in providing information, and “coercive actions.” 15 16
NEASO Petition
Along with AFSE, NEA employees are represented by the National Education Association Staff Union (NEASO). AFSE and NEASO are separate groups but maintain solidarity. 17 During a contentious 2023 labor dispute between AFSE and the NEA, NEASO posted a petition on Action Network claiming a “[persistent] culture of mistreatment and disrespect of our Black staff.” 18
Leadership
Evan Eslinger is the president of the Association of Field Service Employees and has been an organizational specialist at the National Education Association since 2010. From 2007 to 2009, Eslinger was an organizer and organization development specialist at Education Minnesota, an affiliate of the NEA, the American Federation of Teachers, and the AFL-CIO. From 2005 to 2007, he was an organizational consultant at the Arizona Education Association. From 1995 to 2005, Eslinger worked as a teacher and coach in the Fort Osage School District. 19
Nas Afi previously worked as president of AFSE, as an organizational specialist at NEA, and as a delegate and trainer for the National Staff Organization. She currently runs NEA’s Affirmative Action UniServ Intern Program for Ethnic-Minorities and Women. 20
References
- Peck, Emily. “Staffers at NEA, largest U.S. labor union, vote to authorize strike.” MSN. November 14, 2023. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/staffers-at-nea-largest-us-labor-union-vote-to-authorize-strike/ar-AA1jRtRz.
- “Union Organizers Back Pact.” The New York Times. June 5, 1987. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/05/us/union-organizers-back-pact.html.
- Antonucci, Mike. “Which Side Are You On?” EIA Online. June 24, 2014. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/2014/06/24/which-side-are-you-on/.
- Klonsky, Fred. “NEA and AFSE Need To Settle This Thing.” Fred Klonsky. July 22, 2014. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://preaprez.wordpress.com/tag/association-of-field-service-employees/.
- “Letters of Support.” Association of Field Service Employees. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.afsenso.org/?zone=/unionactive/view_page.cfm&page=UD20Academy20Support.
- Sand, Larry. “The Latest in Teacher Union Ugly.” American Greatness. July 19, 2023. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://amgreatness.com/2023/07/19/the-latest-in-teacher-union-ugly/.
- “Stand with AFSE: Support Fair Negotiations at NEA.” Action Network. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stand-with-afse-support-fair-negotiations-at-nea/.
- “Letters of Support.” Association of Field Service Employees. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.afsenso.org/?zone=/unionactive/view_page.cfm&page=UD20Academy20Support.
- “Stand with AFSE: Support Fair Negotiations at NEA.” Action Network. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stand-with-afse-support-fair-negotiations-at-nea/.
- “Stand with AFSE: Support Fair Negotiations at NEA.” Action Network. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stand-with-afse-support-fair-negotiations-at-nea/.
- “Stand with AFSE: Support Fair Negotiations at NEA.” Action Network. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stand-with-afse-support-fair-negotiations-at-nea/.
- “Letters of Support.” Association of Field Service Employees. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.afsenso.org/?zone=/unionactive/view_page.cfm&page=UD20Academy20Support.
- “Stand with AFSE: Support Fair Negotiations at NEA.” Action Network. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stand-with-afse-support-fair-negotiations-at-nea/.
- “Letters of Support.” Association of Field Service Employees. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.afsenso.org/?zone=/unionactive/view_page.cfm&page=UD20Academy20Support.
- Peck, Emily. “Staffers at NEA, largest U.S. labor union, vote to authorize strike.” MSN. November 14, 2023. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/staffers-at-nea-largest-us-labor-union-vote-to-authorize-strike/ar-AA1jRtRz.
- “Stand with AFSE: Support Fair Negotiations at NEA.” Action Network. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stand-with-afse-support-fair-negotiations-at-nea/.
- “NEA Staff Union – NEASO.” Facebook. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/NEAStaffUnion/?locale=fi_FI&paipv=0&eav=AfYi9sx9-U6NynAS2N1Brm5HQest5CMnqBeYdCPMvf0JGDmGAB98bi8fvD7NISAuJBg&_rdr.
- “Respect Is A Union Value.” Action Network. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/respect-is-a-union-value.
- “Evan Eslinger.” LinkedIn. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-eslinger-aaa2614.
- “12 Local Women To Be Honored During Fannie Lou Hamer Awards.” CBS News. September 26, 2021. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/12-local-women-to-be-honored-during-fannie-lou-hamer-awards/.