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Issue Explainer

Workers' Rights

Educators and all public-service employees deserve to negotiate over pay, benefits, and working conditions, but they lack a federal law that would guarantee that right.
REDforED RA
Published: April 4, 2022

Our national affiliate, the National Education Association, and other labor unions have led the fight for better working conditions, including the 8-hour workday, overtime rights, and access to health care and retirement security. AEA advocates for policies at the state legislature and school board rooms that ensure public school employees are treated fairly and with respect.

Educators’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions; good working conditions for educators promote student learning and engagement.

When educators come together to negotiate a fair contract with their employers, they can set limits on class size and address health and safety issues. They can pave the way for community schools and play a role in identifying and solving problems.

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Become part of the movement improving public education and advocating for better salaries. Together we are the biggest and loudest advocates for our schools, our students, and ourselves.
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Keeping the Promise of Quality Public Education

With more than 20,000 members, the Arizona Education Association (AEA) is the labor union for public school employees in Arizona. AEA members are teachers, community college professors, counselors, speech pathologists, bus drivers, secretaries, retired educators and student teachers and they belong to more than 150 local affiliates across Arizona.