The Defense of Public Education
Teachers’ union calls on Elizabeth Warren in bid to strangle strike against Chicago’s Democratic machine
By Barry Grey, 23 October 2019
At Tuesday’s rally, AFT President Weingarten began by holding up the sellout of this year’s Los Angeles teachers’ strike as a victory and model for the Chicago teachers.
Striking Chicago educators speak on their demands
By a WSWS reporting team, 23 October 2019
Keyatta, a teacher’s assistant at Laura Ward Elementary said, “We need more support! Smaller class sizes, more nurses, more support staff, so no one person is trying to teach 35 kids, all at different learning levels."
32,000 Chicago Public Schools teachers and staff strike
By Kristina Betinis, 17 October 2019
Teachers must make an independent initiative to expand their struggle against the Democratic Party and its program of austerity and corporate-backed “school reform.”
Chicago Teachers Union announces “path” to block strike and impose austerity settlement
By Kristina Betinis, 14 October 2019
CTU leaders announced on Saturday a proposal that will allow the district to “phase in” resources in a school system that has been denied the basics for decades.
Brazilian unions push “green and yellow” chauvinism in education strike against austerity, political interference
By Miguel Andrade, 9 October 2019
A range of issues, from austerity measures to privatizations, have repeatedly brought students to the streets, causing panic not only in the government, but in the unions and the opposition.
Chicago teachers vote overwhelmingly to authorize strike
By Kristina Betinis, 28 September 2019
The 94 percent authorization vote is a powerful expression of opposition to the conditions imposed by decades of Democratic mayoral administrations.
Teachers set to strike in southern Alaska
By Dan Conway, 17 September 2019
Teachers in southern Alaska will begin strike activity Tuesday, joining the mass upsurge of teachers in the US and around the globe who have, over the past two years, come out in force to fight for decent pay and benefits and better conditions for students.
As negotiations drag on
Chicago teachers union sets September 26 date for strike authorization vote
By Kristina Betinis, 7 September 2019
If a strike wins support by 75 percent of CTU members, teachers could walk out October 7.
Schools begin in Denver amid sweltering heat and ongoing protests
By Bill Knowles, 5 September 2019
Many Denver teachers, still reeling from the betrayal of their strike last February, have been forced to return to the classrooms in scorching heat.
Chicago-area college advertises for strikebreakers as faculty walkout looms
By Michael Walters, 31 August 2019
After years of pay freezes, hundreds of College of DuPage teachers are determined to restore their wages and prevent further attacks on working conditions.
Vote No! No cuts or layoffs!
Seattle teachers must fight for the defense of public education
By the WSWS Teacher Newsletter, 28 August 2019
Washington state teachers again face a turning point in the fight to defend public education.
As the new US school year begins
The political battle facing teachers
By the WSWS Teacher Newsletter, 28 August 2019
Teachers across the globe are escalating the fight against social inequality, the growing privatization of education and the unrelenting attacks on their standard of living.
Tensions rise as unions and district attempt to head off strike by Las Vegas teachers
By Dan Conway, 27 August 2019
After thousands of teachers flooded a meeting of the Clark County School District demanding their contractually-mandated raises, school board members abruptly ended the meeting before being escorted out by police.
The future is socialism, but it must be fought for
By the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (US), 27 August 2019
Students and youth must fight to build an independent political movement of the working class, in opposition to all the parties and organizations that support capitalism.
San Francisco school board proposes “compromise” in move to suppress historic Depression-era murals
By Toby Reese, 15 August 2019
School board officials in San Francisco continue their attempt to censor the left-wing murals painted by Victor Arnautoff at George Washington High School despite broad popular opposition.
Book Review: Red State Revolt – Part I
The DSA’s dishonest and self-serving account of the US teachers’ strikes
By Nancy Hanover, 8 August 2019
A new book by Democratic Socialists of America member Eric Blanc reviewing the role of the DSA during the teacher strikes in West Virginia, Oklahoma and Arizona aims to boost the credibility of the unions and the Democratic Party.
“I want to strike and send a message to the city”
With anger growing, Chicago Teachers Union floats threat of September walkout
By Kristina Betinis, 22 July 2019
Teachers who have suffered through years of falling real income, deteriorating classroom conditions and mass layoffs are determined to fight, but they face a brick wall of opposition from the CTU.
Contract for more than 20,000 Chicago teachers expires
By Kristina Betinis, 2 July 2019
Last month, contracts for teachers also expired in Baltimore, Maryland; Newark, New Jersey and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Democrats promote right-wing, racialist politics
Michigan Governor Whitmer ties fate of Benton Harbor High School to test scores
By Joseph Lorenz, 2 July 2019
The new offer ties the fate of the high school and possibly the district to test score performance benchmarks as well as financial obligations.
West Virginia legalizes charter schools
By Nancy Hanover, 29 June 2019
Defying the overwhelming sentiments of teachers, students and workers, Governor Jim Justice signed a bill legalizing the state’s first-ever charter schools.
“This is a class question… All students should have equal access to education”
Second of two “Fund Our School” rallies held in Michigan
By Phyllis Steele, 26 June 2019
The small turnout at the protest, organized by the unions to back the budget proposal of the state’s new Democratic governor, was only a pale reflection of the deep discontent over decades of school funding cuts.
Michigan teachers rally to “fund our schools” after 20 years of bipartisan cuts
By Lawrence Porter and Jesse Thomas, 19 June 2019
Teachers across Michigan rallied at the state capitol Tuesday voicing their outrage over a generation of budget cuts.
Vote no to union sellout of New Zealand teachers! Mobilise the working class against the Ardern Labour government!
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 18 June 2019
Following last month’s historic strike, the primary and secondary teacher unions are seeking to impose a sellout deal and shut down the teachers’ struggle.
Union halts New Jersey teachers’ strike after one day
By Erik Schreiber, 13 June 2019
Union officials in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey are negotiating behind the backs of educators to impose a sellout contracts.
Los Angeles schools superintendent warns of “reckoning” after failure of property tax measure
By Dan Conway, 13 June 2019
In an effort to justify its shutdown of the LA teacher strike in January, the unions told educators to look to the Democratic Party-backed tax measure to increase school funding.
Union betrayal ends three-week teacher strike in Hayward-Union City, California
By Evan Blake, 11 June 2019
After striking for 14 days, New Haven teachers were pressured heavily to vote for the union’s sellout contract.
Minnesota nurses seek united struggle as contracts for 13,000 Twin Cities hospital workers expire
By Jonas Boquist, 10 June 2019
Allina, which provoked a 37-day strike in 2016 that was betrayed by the union, is once again spearheading the attack on nurses.
Strikes in Chile, Costa Rica and Honduras
Teachers struggles erupt across Latin America
By Andrea Lobo, 8 June 2019
The response by the ruling class to the resistance led by teachers has been the same everywhere: the claim that there is “no money” and police state repression.
New Zealand secondary teachers’ union cancels industrial action
By Tom Peters, 7 June 2019
There is growing anger over the Labour Party-led government’s refusal to adequately fund education, and the unions’ efforts to isolate teachers.
Michigan governor announces closure of Benton Harbor High School
By Joseph Lorenz and JT Asher, 7 June 2019
Students, parents and community members denounced Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s unilateral decision to close Benton Harbor High School at a school board meeting this week.
Stop the closure of Benton Harbor schools! Defend public education!
By the World Socialist Web Site Teacher Newsletter, 7 June 2019
The following statement was distributed to teachers, parents and students at a school board meeting Tuesday night in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
As new Democratic mayor takes office
Chicago Public Schools lay off hundreds of teachers and staff
By Kristina Betinis, 5 June 2019
Layoff notices were sent to 220 teachers and 498 support staff ahead of the June 30 Chicago Teachers Union contract expiration.
University of Chicago graduate student union plans three-day picket
By George Gallanis, 1 June 2019
Graduate students must take this struggle out of the hands of the American Federation of Teachers-backed Graduate Students United union and form rank-and-file committees.
American educators demand freedom for Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning
By the WSWS Teacher Newsletter, 1 June 2019
The WSWS Teacher Newsletter has received many statements from educators in support of Assange and Manning.
Democrat Tony Thurmond fails to shut down New Haven teachers strike in California
By Evan Blake, 1 June 2019
After facilitating the betrayal of the Oakland and Los Angeles teachers strikes, Thurmond has been brought in by the New Haven Teachers Association to end their strike.
“What we need to do is storm Sacramento”
New Haven teachers speak on conditions
By David Brown, 1 June 2019
Teachers across the New Haven School District spoke with the World Socialist Web Site about the strike and the difficult conditions they face as educators.
As teachers union abandons demands and calls in Democrats
New Haven, California teachers strike at a crossroads
By Evan Blake and David Brown, 31 May 2019
The New Haven Teachers Association is working with state Democrats to end the teachers strike as quickly as possible with a sellout contract
52,000 teachers strike in New Zealand
By Tom Peters, 30 May 2019
The biggest teachers’ strike in the country’s history drew support from many parents and workers who are affected by the worsening social crisis.
As secret negotiations resume between unions and school district
New Haven teachers strike enters fourth day
By Toby Reese and Evan Blake, 23 May 2019
To carry their struggle forward, New Haven teachers must break free from the pro-Democratic Party teachers’ unions, which are preparing to sell them out in the same manner as in Los Angeles, Oakland and Sacramento.
Teachers strike in New Haven School District, Northern California
By Dan Conway, 22 May 2019
The California Teachers Association is sponsoring a #RedForEd “Day of Action” at the state capital of Sacramento on Wednesday.
One million take to the streets against education cuts, austerity in Brazil
By Miguel Andrade, 18 May 2019
The powerful demonstrations by teachers and students in over 200 cities targeted both fascistic President Bolsonaro and Workers Party (PT) state governors.
University of California unions wear down workers with fifth one-day strike
By Evelyn Rios, 17 May 2019
Dwindling numbers participate in the fifth one-day, unpaid strike, as workers have been kept on the job without a contract for nearly two years.
Detroit teachers demand action on pay, class sizes and testing
By J. Cooper, 16 May 2019
Hundreds of red-shirted teachers demanded to be heard at Tuesday’s school board meeting.
A socialist program needed to halt assault on university students and staff
By Mike Head: SEP candidate for Oxley, 14 May 2019
The Socialist Equality Party is alone in calling for a vast redistribution of wealth to secure the basic social right to free, high-quality public education at all levels.
The teachers’ revolt and the fight for social equality
By the WSWS Teacher Newsletter, 14 May 2019
Three years ago, Detroit teachers were the first to organize sickouts and protests that exposed the crisis of public education to a national and international audience.
“I am ready to stay out and not going back in until we get everything we need”
More than 20,000 participate in Oregon walkouts for public education
By Kayla Costa, 9 May 2019
Teachers were joined by thousands of students, parents and school workers at demonstrations in multiple cities across the state.
Ontario government slashes post-secondary education funding and student aid
By Penny Smith, 9 May 2019
Ford’s cuts are part of a concerted drive to restructure post-secondary education to tailor it even more to the demands of big business.
Removal of white educator from African American history class in Michigan sparks widespread outrage
By Phyllis Steele and Nancy Hanover, 9 May 2019
The removal of the high school teacher from an advanced placement course in a Detroit suburb occurred after a group of parents objected to a nationally-developed, comprehensive curriculum for the class.
Polls show growing sentiment for teachers strike in Mississippi
By J. L’Heureau, 4 May 2019
Mississippi educators, seeking to join the international strike wave of teachers, are demanding action against poverty wages and abysmal working conditions.
San Diego Sweetwater Teachers Union begins bargaining as false financial situation reported by district
By Evelyn Rios, 4 May 2019
The union and district are negotiating an austerity contract based on what is most likely fraudulent accounting, amidst allegations of fraud and mismanagement investigations.
“We would benefit greatly if budgets were spent on minds instead of mines”
30,000 march for public education in North and South Carolina
By Ed Hightower, 2 May 2019
Tens of thousands of US teachers marched in the Carolinas on May Day to demand increased pay and school funding and an end to the war against public education.
May Day: Police rampage in Paris as hundreds of thousands march in France
By Alex Lantier, 2 May 2019
After clashes broke out with unidentified “black block” protesters, police indiscriminately assaulted peaceful protesters, journalists, and top union officials.
Year after Arizona strike, teacher walkouts and protests spread in US
By Jerry White, 30 April 2019
Mass protests scheduled for North and South Carolina tomorrow are part of a renewed wave of planned strikes and demonstrations by educators, including in New York City, Chicago and Detroit.
US teachers in the Carolinas to hold mass protests on May Day
By Shelley Connor, 29 April 2019
The simultaneous eruption of teachers struggles in the Carolinas occurs against the backdrop of a continuing wave of teacher strikes and protests around the globe.
In naked sellout, union announces end to strike by 300,000 Polish teachers
By Will Morrow and Clara Weiss, 27 April 2019
The union is covering up the fact that it is ending the strike without meeting any of the teachers’ demands by claiming the strike is being “suspended.”
University of Illinois at Chicago faculty announces deal on eve of strike
By George Gallanis, 26 April 2019
More than 1,100 professors, lecturers, instructors and assistant professors are voting on a concessionary contract being pushed by the UIC United Faculty union, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers.
As union seeks to end walkout
Polish teachers speak out on why they are striking
By Will Morrow, 25 April 2019
The main teachers’ union has called for the suspension of the powerful strike to allow students to complete their exams.
Rutgers University faculty union blocks strike by professors and teaching assistants
By Owen Mullan, 25 April 2019
The American Federation of Teachers acted to prevent a coordinated fight by educators against the Democrats’ austerity measures.
Unions scramble to contain Polish teachers’ strike as 40,000 social workers prepare to stop work
By Clara Weiss, 24 April 2019
The teachers’ strike, the first nationwide walkout since 1993, is one of the largest strikes since the restoration of capitalism in Poland in 1989.
US education secretary to gut regulations, seek a “major shift” in higher education
Part 2: Plundering the education “market”
By Rebecca DeCarlo and Nancy Hanover, 22 April 2019
The US Department of Education is giving a green light to the development of new for-profit entities, which take a staggering cut of 60 percent or more from tuition payments.
UK education system breaking apart after decade of cuts
By Tom Pearce, 22 April 2019
Funding per pupil in England continues to fall, with a further 3 percent drop to come in the next period.
US education secretary to gut regulations, seek a “major shift” in higher education—Part 1
By Nancy Hanover, 20 April 2019
A crude assault on educational standards, which hardens the class divide in educational access and spurs the plundering of the “education market,” is being enacted under the cover of “rule-making” by the US Department of Education.
“Without truth and a free press we are doomed to further oppression”
Teachers demand freedom for Assange and Manning
By the WSWS Teacher Newsletter, 19 April 2019
Teachers have been in the forefront of a wave of global strikes and struggles over the last year, which terrifies the ruling class and is motivating its attack on free speech and democratic rights.
Polish government vows to fight wage rises as teachers’ strike enters second week
By Clara Weiss, 17 April 2019
Both the Polish government and the ZNP union are trying to isolate the national teachers’ strike and keep it from sparking a broader movement of the working class.
Chicago symphony musicians strike defies aristocratic principle
By Kristina Betinis, 13 April 2019
As CSO strike enters sixth week, a right-wing pressure campaign is being mounted to try to force the musicians to make concessions on their pensions.
070 UIC faculty vote to strike
13 April 2019
National strike by Polish teachers enters fifth day
By Clara Weiss, 12 April 2019
The vast majority of Polish teachers remain on strike as the government refuses to make any concessions.
Sacramento, California teachers conduct one day strike
By Ben McGrath, 12 April 2019
As the teachers union works to reach a sellout deal with county officials, rank-and-file teachers are striving for a broader struggle in defense of public education.
One-day strike by Sacramento, California teachers
By Dan Conway, 11 April 2019
Ninety-two percent of Sacramento City Teachers Association members voted last month to authorize strike action in the state capital.
The resurgence of the class struggle in Poland
By Johannes Stern and Alex Lantier, 11 April 2019
Thirty years after General Wojciech Jaruzelski’s Stalinist regime began to collapse, paving the way for capitalist restoration, Polish teachers are mounting a national strike.
Polish teachers strike confronts social disaster wrought by capitalist restoration
By Clara Weiss and Jerry White, 10 April 2019
Hundreds of thousands of educators are continuing their strike against Poland’s extreme right-wing government and its policies of austerity and social reaction.
University of California service and patient care technicians on one-day strike
By Marc Wells, 10 April 2019
University of California’s 25,000 service and patient care technicians are on strike today, for the fourth time in less than a year.
Mississippi teachers threaten first strike since 1985
By J. L’Heureau and Nancy Hanover, 8 April 2019
With Mississippi paying the lowest wages in the country, educators are enraged over the state's refusal to substantially increase them. Calls to defy the state’s brutal anti-strike laws are growing.
“We are the future. Give us what we need!”
Thousands of Ontario students walk out to protest school cuts
By our reporters, 6 April 2019
The student-led initiative saw thousands rally across the province against the right-wing government of Doug Ford.
Ontario workers need an international socialist program to defend public education and fight austerity
By the Socialist Equality Party (Canada), 6 April 2019
If public education from kindergarten to university is to be defended, workers and students must launch a political struggle independently of the unions and in opposition to the entire political establishment.
Australia: Tasmanian teachers take strike action
By Frank Gaglioti, 6 April 2019
Teachers in Tasmania are the lowest paid of any state in Australia.
University of Illinois-Chicago faculty to vote on strike action as grad student walkout enters third week
By George Gallanis, 4 April 2019
The American Federation of Teachers hopes to block faculty members from joining grad students and escalating the fight against the Democratic Party’s austerity program.
San Diego teachers and parents left in the dark as school district threatens massive budget cuts
By Evelyn Rios, 29 March 2019
The Sweetwater school district and its teachers’ union have begun bargaining on an austerity contract in the aftermath of the announcement of the district’s $68 million shortfall.
Strike by University of Illinois at Chicago grad students in danger
By George Gallanis, 28 March 2019
While graduate workers have received broad support from workers and students, their struggle has been isolated by the teachers unions, which are aligned with the state Democrats.
Ontario government axes provincial funding for autism therapy
By Penny Smith, 27 March 2019
The changes the government announced last week to mollify angry protests are cosmetic, leaving parents to fund tens of thousands of dollars in annual treatment costs from their own pockets.
Teacher: One Woman’s Struggle to Keep the Heart in Teaching
An interview with Australian author Gabbie Stroud
By Sue Phillips, 27 March 2019
“It’s almost as if our system doesn’t need a reformation, it needs a re-creation. It’s like we need to dismantle it and start again from the ground up.”
Thousands hold one-day strike at University of California schools and health systems
By Evelyn Rios, 21 March 2019
Yesterday, thousands of the lowest paid workers struck throughout the University of California’s ten campus system, the largest public higher education institution in the world.
University of Illinois at Chicago graduate student workers go on strike
By Andy Thompson, 21 March 2019
Graduate student workers walked out Tuesday to demand increases to pay and benefits and a reduction in fees.
Amid scandal and federal investigations, Nashville, Tennessee charter school closes in the middle of the school year
By Zachary Thorton, 21 March 2019
The largely unregulated charter school edu-business industry took another hit with the sudden closure of the scandal-ridden New Vision Academy in Nashville, Tennessee.
California university workers in one-day strike across the state
By Evelyn Rios, 20 March 2019
Thousands of low-paid workers will strike on Wednesday throughout the University of California’s 10-campus system, the largest public institution of higher learning in the world.
Sacramento, California teachers authorize strike
By Dan Conway, 20 March 2019
The overwhelming strike vote in California’s state capital expresses the militancy of teachers across the country fighting the bipartisan assault on public education.
Ontario government savages public education
By Roger Jordan, 20 March 2019
According to teacher union estimates, the Ford government’s education “reform” will result in the elimination of nearly 10,000 teaching jobs and class sizes of up to 40 students.
Nationwide strike by primary school educators in the Netherlands
By Harm Zonderland, 18 March 2019
The militant struggle of teachers in the Netherlands is part of an international strike wave among educators spanning five continents.
Strike looms for University of Illinois at Chicago graduate students
By George Gallanis, 16 March 2019
The Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) is determined to avoid a strike at all costs and ram through a sellout agreement.
São Paulo teachers’ union shuts down one-month strike
By our reporters, 15 March 2019
The union called an end to the strike after a clear majority of teachers voted to continue it.
Argentine teachers go back to work after three-day strike
By Rafael Azul, 15 March 2019
This year’s three-day walkout, like a two-day strike and mobilizations in 2018, failed to win wage increases to compensate for inflation.
The college admissions scandal and the rigged system of admissions at elite universities
By Gabriel Black, 15 March 2019
The scandal involving charges against 50 individuals, including 33 parents, is a window into the anti-democratic character of the entire world of admissions processes in higher education.
Teacher sickouts in Kentucky, protests in Maryland and Texas
By E.P. Milligan, 14 March 2019
Thousands of teachers are fighting for more school funding, higher wages, and an end to attacks on public education.
Trump proposes slashing public education by $7 billion
By Shelley Connor, 14 March 2019
Trump’s proposed budget, released earlier this week, would cut education spending by over $7 billion while transferring billions to charter and private schools.
Aiming to quash strikes, US teacher union launches campaign to prop up Democrats
By Nancy Hanover, 12 March 2019
Amid increasing strikes and struggles in defense of public education across the US and the world, the teachers’ unions are launching a new initiative to stifle the class struggle and corral teachers behind the capitalist political parties.
As teacher anger explodes across US
How to fight for public education in Indiana
By WSWS Teacher Newsletter, 11 March 2019
Teacher strikes are escalating in the fight against a brutal drive by big business to privatize education and further plunder public education.
“We may walk out because we need drastic change”
Indiana teachers rally against low pay, attacks on public education
By George Marlowe, 11 March 2019
While more than a thousand Indiana teachers rallied in the state Capitol against a decline in teacher salaries over the last 20 years, the unions are actively working to prevent any mass walkouts.
Teachers speak out at Indianapolis rally to defend public education
By our reporters, 11 March 2019
Teachers attending Saturday’s rally denounced low pay, the promotion of charter schools and other privatization schemes, while chanting "strike!" multiple times.
Kentucky teachers speak against attacks on public education
By our reporters, 11 March 2019
Teachers in Kentucky are holding discussions and seeking to develop their fight for pension rights and the defense of public education in the face of sabotage by the state and local teacher unions.
Jefferson County, Kentucky teachers continue sickouts in defiance of unions
By our reporter, 8 March 2019
As sickouts by teachers in Kentucky’s largest school district continued into the second day, the unions were desperately working with state and local officials to shut down the protest.
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