NEA and AFT state and local teacher unions had merged in the 1960s and 1970s, including affiliates in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New Orleans, and throughout Florida. The Education Minnesota merger had encouraged other NEA and AFT state teacher unions in the United States to consider a merger as well. The Montana Education Association and Montana Federation of Teachers merged in September 2000, and discussions were under way in Missouri, New Mexico, New York and Texas. Meanwhile, in 26 states NEA and AFT state affiliates had signed "no-raid" agreements, which set jurisdictions for each state affiliate and prohibited each union from absorbing the other. Meanwhile, AFT president Sandra Feldman publicly voiced her conclusion that state mergers would continue until a de facto merger of the two unions occurred. Both parent unions recognized a need for ground rules before any additional state mergers. Each union adopted a series of guidelines for approval of state mergers. Through the NEA-AFT joint council, "NEAFT," the AFT and NEA agreed to additional guidelines that must be met for future state mergers to move forward smoothly. Minnesota Educator Academy The annual Minnesota Educator Academy ("MEA"), previously known as the Education Minnesota Professional Conference, is the largest professional development opportunity for educators in Minnesota. It takes place the third Thursday in October. Those days, students do not have classes, enabling educators in Minnesota to attend the conference, although many do not attend. The "MEA weekend" is one of the busiest travel times in Minnesota, even busier than Thanksgiving. In 2020, it became the biggest travel week since the first impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. See also List of education trade unions References External links American Federation of Teachers National Education Association Trade unions established in 1998 State wide trade unions in the United States Trade unions in Minnesota Organizations based in Saint Paul, Minnesota