blitz noun - a sudden, energetic, and concerted effort, typically on a specific task.
At NCAE, a blitz is an all-day effort to organize new members in a specific local, worksite, or geographic area. In the last week of October, NCAE teamed up with the NEA Center for Organizing for a blitz in Forsyth and Guilford counties. More than two dozen NEA organizers came from all over the country to help our union continue to grow.
And it is growing. As of the beginning of October, North Carolina was the #1 fastest-growing state affiliate in NEA. Both the Guilford County Association of Educators (GCAE) and the Forsyth County Association of Educators (FCAE) are two of the fastest-growing locals in North Carolina.
With NEA staff, NCAE staff, and members gathered, it was time to unite and strengthen the union. The event started with a kickoff meeting on the evening of Monday, October 27. In addition to training and logistics, there were rousing speeches about the importance of organizing, including one from NCAE President Tamika Walker Kelly.
“We’re here today to support something bigger than ourselves,” said Walker Kelly. “The more people we gain for our movement for public schools, the more power we gain to fight for our students and fellow educators. And when we fight, we win.”
The next morning, blitz participants rose before sunrise to prepare for the busy day ahead. Prep packets and membership forms were readied, and then it was time for the blitz to begin!
One blitz team was sent to Mineral Spring Middle School in Winston-Salem. The team included Keyth Harrison, a former teacher and Uniserv director for NCAE, who now works for NEA. He was joined by Colleen Lanier, another former NCAE Uniserv and active NCRSP member, and FCAE Vice President Lee Childress.
The blitz team met with current members at Mineral Spring, uplifting their work and motivating potential members to join NCAE. Current members expressed their delight at NCAE's visit and their satisfaction with NCAE's ongoing efforts to enhance the union's power.
“Several years ago, I was in my third year of teaching, and there was a big push for teacher pay,” said Mary Griffith, NCAE member and Mineral Spring building leader. “There was a group here in Winston that put in for sick days to go march on Raleigh, and any group that's going to be a part of advocacy for anything that I feel is going to help us grow to a better future. That's why I'm a member.”
New members were ecstatic to become involved in a movement that supports educators, students, and parents across North Carolina.
“I like to be a part of the group that advocates for teachers, and I’ll like to do the same,” said Kayla Brooks, a new NCAE member.
In all, it was a very successful day at Mineral Springs Middle School with 20 conversations and ten new members. Across both locals, blitz participants recorded having 373 conversations with educators and signed up 65 new members.
“It’s always wonderful to engage educators and affirm their access to union membership,” said Keyth Harrison. “More so, engaging members and potential members as a union staff employee allows us to dispel myths about what a union is, isn't, and what it does and doesn’t, while also explaining to each member and potential member that having a strong union is more than paying monthly dues.
“They too have a responsibility by being engaged and involved in their union so that their union may grow strong, and its members can experience what “collective action” is able to accomplish.”
When we come together, we win.
