This piece was developed by Organize 2020, the social and racial justice caucus of the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), written in advance of the massive May 16th teachers mobilizations in North Carolina. Keep an eye out for future reflection pieces from local organizers.
Two weeks before the vote, organizers had recorded 110,000 people participating in walk-ins in 1,100 schools. A petition supporting AEU’s five demands garnered another 35,000 signatures. In the end, 57,000 teachers and support staff cast votes on the walkout, with 78 percent in favor.
Educators in Arizona are walking out today to demand better pay and full school funding. It will likely be the largest and most dramatic education strike yet. Moderators Note: By all reports about 75,000 Arizona teachers went on strike Friday.
Before capital is an economic category, it’s a political one. If you have it, you’re obviously so...freer to do as you please; if you don’t, you’re dependent on those who do. Hiding in plain sight...is a contrary fact: without the collective work of those ostensibly powerless workers, nothing moves.
To believe that the West Virginia strike was a natural expression of the correct alignment of social forces isn’t just wrong, it sells West Virginians short.
A wave of teacher-led actions around the country was kicked off when teachers in West Virginia emerged victorious from a nearly two-week strike earlier this month. Last week In Arizona, this week in Oklahoma and Kentucky. Other states may soon follow, including New Mexico and Alaska.
On Monday, schools will be shut down across Oklahoma as rank-and-file teachers look to build on the momentum of the West Virginia strike.
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As teachers prepare for an April walkout, there are some key differences when compared to their 1990 strike, which present unique challenges, along with unique opportunities.
By all accounts, the strike is a bottom-up rebellion. It was organized by rank-and-file teachers, with state teachers’ unions scrambling to catch up.
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