The Defense of Public Education
The State, Business and Education: How rapacious corporations are dismantling public education globally
By Erika Zimmer, 16 February 2019
Billionaires, global tech companies and national governments are imposing a profit-driven, user-pays system.
Union shuts down Denver teachers strike
By Trévon Austin, 15 February 2019
The Denver Classroom Teachers Association cut a deal in the early hours of Thursday morning and told teachers to return to work before voting on the contract.
Wright State University reaches tentative agreement with faculty enshrining health and pay cuts
By Alexander Fangmann, 15 February 2019
The agreement codifies most of the demands made by the university’s administrators and board of trustees, and should be rejected by faculty.
Union rushing to end Denver teachers strike
By Nancy Hanover, 14 February 2019
Denver teachers should take a warning from the experience of Los Angeles teachers and resist any attempt to rush through a deal that abandons critical demands for substantial increases in pay and school funding and a reduction in class sizes.
Denver teachers battle merit-pay system that is backed by unions, Democratic Party
By Andrea Peters, 13 February 2019
Teachers in Colorado’s largest city are continuing their decisive fight against low pay, performance-based compensation and underfunding of the schools.
Wright State University administration issues call for scabs in bid to intimidate striking faculty
By Alexander Fangmann, 9 February 2019
As the strike by full-time faculty at Wright State heads toward a fourth week, the university administration is attempting to threaten striking faculty with the specter of being replaced by “long-term” adjuncts.
Committee for Public Education (Australia): Support the fight against GM layoffs!
By the Committee for Public Education (CFPE), 9 February 2019
The February 9 demonstration, organised independently of the unions, provides a lead for all workers internationally, including teachers.
48-year-old teacher perishes in house fire on Chicago’s southwest side
By Kristina Betinis, 6 February 2019
Kathleen Gomez was mourned by family and friends at her home on Tuesday evening.
Oakland, California teachers overwhelmingly vote to strike
By Jonathan Burleigh, 6 February 2019
Oakland teachers have voted by 95 percent to authorize a strike, showing the determination of educators to fight in defense of public education.
West Virginia teachers battle legislative “education reform”
By Naomi Spencer, 5 February 2019
Teachers in West Virginia are set to vote on possible “statewide work action” against a raft of right-wing education policies being fast-tracked through the state legislature.
Lack of teachers, work overload undermine Dutch education system
By Harm Zonderland, 5 February 2019
A survey held amongst teachers exposes the disastrous working conditions in the primary schools, high schools and universities of the Netherlands.
West Virginia teachers angered over renewed attack on public education
By Phyllis Steele and Nancy Hanover, 1 February 2019
Members of the West Virginia state legislature are attempting to fast-track a “Comprehensive Education Reform” bill that would further eviscerate public education in the state.
Sacramento school district threatens bankruptcy to extort concessions from teachers
By Dan Conway, 31 January 2019
School district officials in California’s capital city announced they had to cut $16 million from spending by November 2019 to avoid state receivership, with another $16 million in cuts needed for next year.
Berlin teachers and social workers strike for better working conditions
By our reporters, 31 January 2019
The unions have long worked with the parties that form the Berlin Senate to impose cuts.
City Colleges of Chicago averts staff and faculty strike
By Alexander Fangmann, 31 January 2019
Just days after the setting of a February 4 strike date, the Cook County College Teachers Union and Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that a tentative agreement had been reached.
Indian state government fires hundreds of teachers as Tamil Nadu strike faces a crossroads
By Arun Kumar, 30 January 2019
By isolating striking teachers and government workers, the JACTTO-GEO, which has hundreds of thousands of members, has allowed the state government to intensify its anti-democratic attacks.
Oklahoma legislators seek to strip teachers of democratic rights
By Phyllis Steele, 30 January 2019
A series of bills being introduced on February 4 by state Republicans would punish teachers for striking, participating in political activities and exercising freedom of speech.
After sellout of Los Angeles teachers strike, new attacks on public schools coming
By Alan Gilman, 30 January 2019
The agreement failed to meet any of the teachers’ most critical demands to reduce class size, increase wages, stop the expansion of charter schools, and address chronically underfunded budgets.
The timeline of a sellout
How the UTLA orchestrated the betrayal of Los Angeles teachers
By Alan Gilman, 25 January 2019
Well aware that the sellout deal would provoke widespread opposition, the union rushed through the contract without providing teachers time to study and discuss it.
“It was rushed. It was a farce”
Los Angeles teachers livid over union’s betrayal of strike
By Kimie Saito, 25 January 2019
Teachers spoke out on how the United Teachers Los Angeles pushed through a contract vote on a deal that abandoned their most critical demands.
Virginia and Denver teachers set to strike as educators struggles continue to spread
By Shelley Connor and Nancy Hanover, 24 January 2019
Teachers are entering into struggle after decades of bipartisan defunding of public schools, accompanied by the promotion of privatization and charter schools.
Ontario guts financial aid for low-income students
By Roger Jordan, 24 January 2019
Outraged students have called a rally in Toronto tomorrow to protest the gutting of student aid—the latest volley in the Ford government’s war on the working class.
Union rams through deal to end Los Angeles teachers strike
By Jerry White, 23 January 2019
Before educators had time to study the deal, the United Teachers Los Angeles rushed through a vote that ignores teachers’ demands for improved wages and school funding and lower class sizes.
An Oklahoma teacher speaks on the Los Angeles educators strike
By Andrea Peters, 23 January 2019
“Education is just underfunded,” emphasized an Oklahoma teacher who participated in the strike last April and spoke to the WSWS about her support for LA teachers.
Scottish teachers balloted for strike action in pay dispute
By Darren Paxton, 23 January 2019
Teachers in Scotland are demanding a 10 percent pay increase, having rejected on several occasions the Scottish government’s offer of a paltry 3 percent.
“There’s only so much workers can take and now we’re rising up”
Mass demonstration as Los Angeles strike reaches fifth day
By our reporters, 19 January 2019
As anger among teachers builds to fight against the Democratic Party-led campaign to privatize public education, the United Teachers of Los Angeles is working with the school officials to carve up the district.
Oakland teachers hold second wildcat “sickout,” call for statewide strike with Los Angeles teachers
By Jonathan Burleigh, 19 January 2019
In defiance of the official, interminable, negotiations process, Oakland teachers have begun to organize themselves independently in preparation for a broader struggle in defense of public education.
Wright State University faculty in Dayton, Ohio to strike Tuesday
By Alexander Fangmann, 19 January 2019
Faculty at Wright State University are scheduled to begin striking on Tuesday against the imposition of an austerity contract featuring a pay freeze, furloughs, healthcare cuts and increases in workload.
Los Angeles teachers battle privatization as union vies to be partner in LAUSD restructuring
By Jerry White, 18 January 2019
The five-day strike by Los Angeles teachers has thrust educators into a direct conflict with the Democratic Party, which has used the city and the state as a test case for school privatization.
Scottish lecturers expand strike for pay claim
By our correspondents, 18 January 2019
Lecturers are demanding a 2.5 percent increase, which merely covers for inflation, against an offer from the employers group Colleges Scotland of 0.9 percent.
The global class struggle in 2019
By Joseph Kishore, 16 January 2019
The year 2019 is beginning with a wave of strikes, demonstrations and other manifestations of class struggle around the world.
As support grows to extend Los Angeles teacher strike, unions colluding with Democrats to end walkout
By Jerry White, 16 January 2019
With Oakland teachers planning sickouts to join the fight, the United Teachers Los Angeles is working behind the scenes with the Democratic mayor and governor to prepare a sellout of the strike.
Los Angeles teachers speak out on political issues in strike
By our reporters, 16 January 2019
“They keep saying, ‘There’s no money, there’s no money.’ That’s a lie.”
Oakland, California teachers plan a one-day walkout Friday
By Jonathan Burleigh, 16 January 2019
Teachers in Oakland, facing the same crisis as those striking in Los Angeles, have called a second wildcat “sickout” to oppose the attacks on public education.
For a united struggle to defend public education in California and beyond!
By the WSWS Teacher Newsletter, 12 January 2019
As teachers in Los Angeles prepare to strike, they confront the fact that the unions are working to undermine and isolate their struggle against privatization and other attacks on public education.
Widespread support for Los Angeles teacher strike as unions seek to block statewide struggle
By our reporters, 11 January 2019
Students, parents and workers expressed their support for Los Angeles teachers who are determined to walk out for improved wages and to oppose the drive to dismantle public education.
Los Angeles teachers angered as union delays strike again
By Jerry White, 10 January 2019
Just days after abandoning teachers’ most critical demands regarding opposition to school privatization, the United Teachers Los Angeles has postponed the strike by 33,000 educators
“All the teachers across the nation should come out”
California, Michigan educators call for joint action with LA teachers
By our reporters, 10 January 2019
The WSWS Teacher Newsletter spoke to teachers eager to join with LA teachers and expand the fight to defend public education nationally and internationally.
Portland State University threatens to fire Peter Boghossian for authoring “Grievance Studies” hoax
By Eric London, 10 January 2019
Boghossian has faced threats and intimidation after Portland State found he violated ethical obligations in the October 2018 study exposing the bankruptcy of postmodernism and identity politics.
Los Angeles teachers prepare to strike
By Jerry White, 9 January 2019
Teachers in the nation’s second-largest school district are engaged in a critical battle to defend the right to public education.
Los Angeles and the billionaires’ plan to destroy public education
By Alan Gilman, 9 January 2019
Los Angeles teachers are in the front line of the battle against Wall Street interests seeking to privatize education.
Los Angeles school officials hire strikebreakers as teachers prepare for walkout
By Dan Conway and Jerry White, 4 January 2019
Teachers in Los Angeles should reach out to educators in Oakland and across California to prepare a statewide walkout to defend the right to high quality public education.
Strike looms in Los Angeles as struggles by educators set to continue in 2019
By Nancy Hanover, 31 December 2018
The new year promises to inaugurate growing struggles in defense of public education, as teachers around the world prepare strikes and protests.
Teacher unions in Washington state back Democrats’ regressive school taxes
By Kayla Costa, 31 December 2018
Months after the statewide teachers’ struggle, the Democratic Party, unions and pseudo-left groups are uniting to implement regressive taxes in the name of funding public education.
Virginia teachers plan statewide protest to demand school funding
By Ed Hightower, 24 December 2018
Thousands of Virginia teachers are expected to march on the state capitol in Richmond on January 28, as the fight in defense of public education continues to spread across the US.
Meeting on Oakland school closure expresses hostility to attacks on public education
By Jonathan Burleigh, 24 December 2018
Numerous attendees condemned the school district for its cuts to public education in Oakland and their drive to convert public schools to private charter schools.
January 10 strike date set for 33,000 Los Angeles teachers
By Dan Conway, 24 December 2018
Despite union efforts to block a strike, teachers in the second largest school district in America are demanding higher wages, smaller class sizes and the hiring of more nurses and support staff.
Mass demonstration by Los Angeles teachers
By Dan Conway, 17 December 2018
The demonstration, which involved up to 50,000 protesters, was the latest indication of the resumption of resistance by educators across the US who have been involved in the largest strike wave by teachers in decades.
New York City school therapists protest for changes to union-backed contract
By Steve Light, 17 December 2018
The action demonstrates, yet again, the determination of teachers to defend their living standards and stop the assault on public education, against the unions' role.
West Virginia: Task force concludes without a “fix” for public workers’ insurance
By Clement Daly, 17 December 2018
Throughout the strike and pro-forma hearings, teachers and public service workers demanded that health care be funded through increased taxes on the state’s oil and gas industry.
Los Angeles teachers and the fight for social equality
By the WSWS Teacher Newsletter, 14 December 2018
This statement will be distributed at a mass demonstration of teachers and their supporters in Los Angeles, California on Saturday.
Oakland, California teachers hold wildcat “sickout”
By Jonathan Burleigh, 10 December 2018
Teachers from over five schools carried out a coordinated “sick out” on Monday to protest low wages and millions of dollars in planned cuts to the district.
Sudden closure of for-profit Education Corporation of America leaves 20,000 students without an education
By Adam Mclean, 8 December 2018
One of the largest for-profit colleges in the United States, ECA abruptly announced this week that they would shut down operations at almost all locations, following their disaccreditation on Tuesday.
Chicago charter teacher strike continues, as unions announce backing for Democratic machine politician
By Kristina Betinis, 7 December 2018
Acero teachers determined to improve conditions are being isolated from other schools even as the unions use their strike as the backdrop for their political maneuvers.
US teacher unions’ “Remember in November” fizzles
By J. Cooper, 17 November 2018
After sabotaging the teachers’ strike movement last spring, the teachers unions turned all energy toward the ballot box. What happened?
Australian teacher unions’ phoney campaign against NAPLAN
By Erika Zimmer, 16 November 2018
The teacher unions have no principled opposition to the high-stakes testing agenda, while Australian teachers have opposed it from the start.
French teachers mobilize against Macron’s attacks on education
By Anthony Torres, 15 November 2018
Monday’s strike was the first day of action called by the education unions since 2011.
The Little Rock Education Association stalls on strike action in Arkansas
By Nancy Hanover, 5 November 2018
The deliberate isolation of struggles by teacher unions is taking a stark form in Little Rock, Arkansas, the site of a major battle for desegregation of public education 61 years ago.
Chicago charter school teachers vote overwhelmingly to authorize strike
By Kristina Betinis, 5 November 2018
Charter school teachers are determined to improve pay and classroom conditions, but they cannot advance their fight through the Chicago Teachers Union.
Tens of thousands of teachers demonstrate in Glasgow for better pay
By Robert Stevens, 29 October 2018
The demonstration was far larger than the EIS anticipated and shows the desire of teachers to fight back against pay cuts.
AFSCME officials attempt to suppress WSWS reporting team
Union shuts down three-day strike by California health care and service workers
By Evelyn Rios, 27 October 2018
AFSCME has kept its 25,000 members on the job without a contract for over a year. Their current contract expired June 30, 2017.
UC healthcare and service workers to begin three-day strike
By Evelyn Rios, 20 October 2018
AFSCME and other unions at UC are working overtime to prevent any significant struggle by workers, and sabotage it if it erupts anyway.
Australian “edu-business” set to profit under Gonski 2.0
By Erika Zimmer, 13 October 2018
Gonski 2.0 advocates an even more regressive testing regime than the NAPLAN model implemented by the Rudd Labor government in 2008.
Argentine teachers facing massive pay cuts strike for 48 hours
By Andrea Lobo, 12 October 2018
Teachers face losing a quarter of their real wages this year, while Macri’s austerity policies threaten to cut funding for public education by up to 40 percent in real terms.
Los Angeles teachers union continues to delay strike action as negotiations proceed
By Dan Conway, 6 October 2018
The union for Los Angeles teachers is fighting to block strike action, despite teachers working without a contract and authorizing a strike.
Australian government hands private schools another $4.6 billion
By David Cohen, 6 October 2018
The latest windfall will accelerate the gulf between well-resourced private schools and cash-starved public schools in one of the world’s most unequal education systems.
3,000 Dutch public service workers protest in The Hague
By our reporters, 5 October 2018
Anger over high levels of social inequality in the Netherlands swelled after the neo-liberal-conservative coalition government announced the abolition of the country’s tax on dividends.
UK government attempt to gag teachers as cuts deepen
By Tania Kent, 21 September 2018
The government reaction must be seen as a warning: not only will school cuts continue unabated but that they will move forcefully against any attempts to block their austerity agenda.
Texas special education students face teacher shortage and budget shortfall
By Todd Denton, 17 September 2018
The state of Texas is in violation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for its failure to educate disabled children.
Washington state strikes continue as Tumwater teachers defy back-to-work order
By Hector Cordon, 14 September 2018
Four hundred teachers in the small Washington State town of Tumwater are courageously defying a judge’s strikebreaking order as educators continue walkouts in Tacoma and other cities.
Teachers strike in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
By our reporter, 13 September 2018
The district’s teachers are being asked to shoulder increased health care costs.
Police suppress protest over schools in debt-ridden Chinese city
By Pradeep Ramanayake, 10 September 2018
The immediate reason for the protest was a local government decision to cut costs in government schools by relocating all fifth and sixth grade students to private schools.
Seattle Education Association pushes through sellout deal
By Evan Blake, 10 September 2018
The Seattle Education Association, with the backing of its supposedly dissident faction, Social Equity Educators, forced through the agreement, undermining the momentum for a statewide strike.
A warning to students and the working class
Who are California Governor Jerry Brown’s appointments to the University of California Board of Regents?
By Evelyn Rios, 10 September 2018
Brown appointed his chief fiscal policy advisor, a top union bureaucrat, a former EPA official, and prior vice president of Lockheed Martin, the weapons manufacturer.
Striking Tacoma, Washington, teachers demand better pay, funding for education
By Kayla Costa, 7 September 2018
On Thursday, teachers in Tacoma joined thousands of striking teachers throughout the state of Washington as the unions work to contain and isolate the struggles in each district.
As union seeks to wrap up strikes, Washington teachers rally and call for statewide walkout
By Nancy Hanover, 3 September 2018
Educators demand statewide strike action in Washington state, while the union seeks to quash walkouts and prevent new ones.
Los Angeles teachers vote 98 percent for strike authorization
By Kimie Saito, 1 September 2018
For the first time in almost 30 years, Los Angeles teachers vote overwhelmingly for strike action.
Seattle teachers vote to authorize strike
By Kayla Costa, 30 August 2018
In a mass meeting Tuesday night, thousands of teachers voted to join ongoing strikes by educators across the state of Washington.
US education secretary floats plan to use federal funds to arm teachers
By Khara Sikhan, 30 August 2018
Following Donald Trump's call to arm teachers, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is considering diverting funds meant for hiring support staff to purchasing firearms for schools.
More Washington state teachers strike as unions seek to contain struggle
By Alec Andersen, 28 August 2018
On Monday, teachers in Vancouver, the state’s second-largest city, voted to authorize a strike if no deal is reached by the start of school on Wednesday.
Teachers across Washington state demand strike action and big pay increases
By Nancy Hanover, 27 August 2018
In their fight to reverse years of budget cuts, Washington teachers are giving voice to the anger and determination of educators and workers across the US.
Macron’s education cuts deny admission to thousands of French university students
By Kumaran Ira, 27 August 2018
The measure aims to make universities more competitive and to prepare their privatization.
Teachers across Washington state prepare to strike over wages and conditions
By Alec Andersen, 25 August 2018
The opposition of Washington teachers and support staff is a continuation of the teacher revolt that started at the beginning of 2018 and comes amid an upsurge of working class struggle.
Los Angeles teachers vote on strike authorization
By Dan Conway, 24 August 2018
After working without a contract for 13 months, Los Angeles teachers are taking a strike authorization vote.
Puerto Rico’s teachers hold one-day strike
By Shelley Connor, 24 August 2018
Puerto Rico teachers began the school year with a one-day protest against privatization and crumbling schools.
As students return to school, US teachers face nationwide struggle to defend education
By Nancy Hanover, 20 August 2018
US teachers are returning to the classroom in the aftermath of the “teacher spring,” determined to take forward the fight in defense of public education.
Teacher hostility grows to Michigan Department of Education’s curriculum changes
By Walter Gilberti, 20 August 2018
The Michigan Department of Education has proposed new social studies standards which remove references to essential democratic rights and aim to censor the study of history.
Puerto Rican teachers’ anger builds against privatization, firings and lack of pay raises
By Shelley Connor, 14 August 2018
Teachers have had no pay raises in the past 10 years, classes are overcrowded and hundreds of teachers are starting the school year with no knowledge of where they will be placed.
Mass exodus of South Carolina teachers continues
By Hiram Lee, 11 August 2018
As the 2018-2019 school year begins, South Carolina will likely face an even greater shortage of teachers than in previous years.
Arizona teachers return to classrooms with limited gains and broken promises
By Nancy Hanover, 8 August 2018
In the aftermath of the largest statewide walkout last spring, Arizona teachers are still facing a battle for decent wages and education funding.
Stalemate on takeover of Kentucky’s largest school district
By J. Cooper, 6 August 2018
The takeover of the JCPS by the state education commissioner faces opposition as educators fear the implementation of charter schools is behind the move.
New Zealand teachers join growing wages movement
By our reporters, 6 August 2018
In a rebuff to the union leadership, 50,000 primary school teachers voted to strike on August 15.
Five months after strike, West Virginia teachers say “nothing has changed”
By Nancy Hanover, 31 July 2018
The unions double-crossed the West Virginia teachers, ending their struggle without securing funding for the PEIA, which underwrites their health insurance.
Australian government pushes cuts to student loan scheme
By Oscar Grenfell, 29 June 2018
The Liberal-National government is seeking to force increasingly poverty-stricken young people to repay student debts.
Peruvian teachers strike in defiance of government ban
By Cesar Uco, 22 June 2018
The teachers’ strike has been joined by walkouts of railroad, public transit and other workers as economic conditions continue to deteriorate in Peru.
Rural school closings devastate Wisconsin communities
By Jacob Crosse, 18 June 2018
Along with school closings, Wisconsin teachers saw a 21 percent decrease in wages and benefits between 2011 and 2016.
Teachers must prepare for struggle when schools reopen
Oakland Education Association announces contract negotiation impasse
By Jonathan Burleigh, 9 June 2018
Oakland teachers must draw the lessons of this year’s teachers strikes to prepare their own struggle when schools reopen.
Louisiana teachers support strike for wage increase
By J. L’Heureau, 28 May 2018
The union is seeking to prevent a walkout and has warned that teachers may “take action sooner than we predict.”
As unions try to block further walkouts
US education secretary pledges to escalate war on teachers
By Jerry White, 23 May 2018
In remarks before the House Education and Workforce Committee, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos outlined the administration’s plans to accelerate the war against teachers and public education.
Teachers and public workers protest in South Carolina
By Hiram Lee, 21 May 2018
Workers held signs that read, “Teachers need to eat too!”, “My income won’t pay my student loans!”
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