Biden cancels speech at National Education Association conference after union staff goes on strike

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — President Joe Biden has canceled plans to speak at the National Education Association conference in Philadelphia on Sunday because the staff is on strike.

NEA is the largest union in the country, representing more than three million educators. On Friday the staff of NEA headquarters in Washington announced an Unfair Labor Practice strike, mounting a picket line outside the Philadelphia Convention Center.

A statement from the Biden campaign says "President Biden is a fierce supporter of unions and he won’t cross a picket line.”

Branita Griffin Henson, a member of the staff union NEASO, says she respects him for the decision.

“He walked the line with the UAW . He is a staunch unionist and I applaud him for not crossing our picket line.”

NEASO has been in contract talks with NEA and called the picket to protest the loss of holiday overtime pay and the outsourcing of services.

NEA says misinformation has been spread about contract talks and that it has offered raises and no change in benefits but it respects the picket line and has canceled the convention.

The appearance before the NEA was part of the president’s plan to get his campaign back on track after a poor debate performance last month.

A campaign spokesperson says Biden will still come to Philadelphia Sunday morning. He'll attend a church service here then fly to Harrisburg for a campaign event.