Waukesha, WI – On July 12, nearly 800 people silently rallied to support Waukesha public school teacher Melissa Tempel. Waukesha Alliance for Education organized the rally and encouraged participants to wear black armbands. This is a subtle nod to Mary Beth Tinker, the lead plaintiff in the Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District ruling, a landmark 1969 decision regarding censorship in education settings.

The Waukesha School District (WSD) held a hearing for Tempel, a teacher at Heyer Elementary School. Tempel was also a union representative within the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) Region 7. The hearing was held to consider the recommendation made for Melissa Tempel's termination. The rally was heavily monitored by Waukesha area police at the specific request of the reactionary Waukesha school board members.

This is following the denial from Tempel’s supervisor, the principal of Heyer Elementary, to use the song Rainbowland by Miley Cyrus (featuring Dolly Parton) in a school play. It then went to the school board where they said that the song was “too controversial.”

This decision comes after a ban that WSD introduced that censored material related to “Black lives matter'' and “Pride.” Upon the passage of this policy, WSD Superintendent James Sebert and Deputy Superintendent Joe Koch stated in a letter, “Our advocacy for curricular resources and support for learning are never ending, but our personal beliefs and convictions must stay out of the classroom.”

Tempel and other union teachers took a strong position in 2021 against the bans. The Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association (a WEAC affiliate), the National Educators Association and Free Little Library created a “Read Banned Books” campaign that focused on censorship policies in public schools.

The majority of WSD board members align with reactionary views. The Wisconsin Achievement Partnership (WAP) is a non-profit organization that is staunchly anti-union and anti-LGBTQ. WAP is an organization that most Waukesha school board members have strong ties to. The organization held a counter-protest in support of Tempel’s termination.

Tempel’s supporters argue that she was exercising her First Amendment rights. The right to free speech was seen across the many signs at the rally. Many of Tempel’s fellow educators at the event indicated that it’s important for them to show up for her because this could happen to any one of them.

In spite of the mass protest, the Waukesha School District board voted 9-0 to move forward with Tempel’s termination. She plans to follow up with a federal lawsuit focused on First Amendment violations. While the school board ruling comes as a disappointment, Tempel has an overwhelming number of supporters and fellow teachers willing to fight for what’s best for their students, and Tempel herself is committed to continuing the struggle, not only for herself but for her fellow educators as well as the students she cares deeply about.

#WaukeshaWI #Labor #teachers #Wisconsin #TeachersUnions

Atlanta, GA – UPS Teamsters across the state of Georgia are holding practice pickets at UPS facilities this week as negotiations between the Teamsters and UPS have begun to break down. The practice picketing is part of a national mobilization of rank-and-file Teamsters to prepare for a strike at UPS and to let the company know that the Teamsters are serious about striking for a good contract.

The practice pickets come just after UPS walked away from the bargaining table July 5 when the union refused to agree to an offer they found unacceptable, saying it did not improve wages for part-time workers.

There are currently no further scheduled negotiations between the company and union. International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien has made it clear to the company that if there is no agreement between UPS and the Teamsters by July 31, around 350,000 UPS Teamsters will be going on strike August 1.

Corey Stiles is a package car driver in Atlanta and said, “All UPSers know that our contract is the gold standard in our industry. Despite record profits, UPS is doing everything in their power to start chipping away at the strength of our contract in hopes that we will concede to less than we deserve.” Stiles went on to say, “We will stand firm with our Teamster brothers and sisters to get a contract that both full-time and part-time employees have earned and deserve. This new contract will inspire those fighting without a union contract to keep up their fight as well.”

As of now, with no further bargaining scheduled, a nationwide UPS strike will begin on August 1 unless a deal is reached before then.

Bill Aiman is a package handler and Teamsters Local 728 union steward.

#AtlantaGA #Teamsters #TeachersUnions

On Monday, May 15, Fight Back! interviewed Michael Jones, president of the teachers’ unit with Madison Teachers, Incorporated (MTI), which represents nearly 2700 educators employed by the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD), to discuss current conditions and a recent week of action where teachers worked to rule. Fight Back!: How long have you been working in Madison schools?

Michael Jones: I'm finishing up my 14th year in education, my ninth year in MMSD.

Fight Back!: What are the general conditions of work for educators in Madison right now?

Jones: Like many education workers nationally, statewide and locally, our working conditions are extremely challenging and demoralizing. Sometimes, it's building infrastructure, such as being in spaces without proper air conditioning, heating or ventilation. We're also facing a significant shortage of workers in education, from custodial or food service, to education assistants and teachers, to mental health services.

As conditions like increasing class sizes, reduced protected break and prep times, and increasing workloads persist, our veteran workers are leaving either the district or education altogether. And we're not recruiting and retaining new workers because the conditions are so inequitable. On top of all of that, our employer seems to have given up on trying to support and retain workers, rather refusing to invest money because it's seen as a lost cause. This is one of the long-term intended impacts of Scott Walker and Robin Vos’s plan to destroy public education when they undemocratically pushed through Act 10 in 2011.

Fight Back!: You mentioned Act 10. What impact has this and Right to Work legislation had on your union and the workplaces in general?

Jones: In many ways, it's decimated our workers' morale and ability to sustain a livable lifestyle in Wisconsin and Madison. There's the tangible costs of being underpaid tens of thousands of dollars in a late-stage capitalistic society, so people have made unfortunate choices like dropping union membership or leaving the profession for pure financial reasons. Then there's the emotional harm Walker and the Republicans have caused our schools and unions that seems irreparable, at times.

Right or wrong, one's wages reflect how they are valued in their society as a human being. And the messages – through Act 10, through union-busting actions at the state and local levels, and the racist, homophobic, transphobic, misogynist, ableist actions pursued by leaders – to education workers have been clear: you are hated in the very communities you are trying to support and improve. It's not surprising that our system is in crisis — look at the messages we receive!

Fight Back!: What recent conditions specifically led to the week of action during Teacher Appreciation Week?

Jones: Over the past three years, MMSD has underpaid workers below the rate of inflation. Last year, the [Consumer Price Index] was 4.7% and the district only gave 3%. That means all workers took a pay cut since their wages weren't keeping up with inflation, even if the number on paper looked higher. Add to that the deteriorating conditions and the lack of district leadership empathy to our concerns, our workers decided to publicly take a stand on the unpaid, unrecognized and unsupported labor that educators are expected to do outside of our contracted day.

Because our system historically undervalues and underpays educators, because our workers are primarily people with uteruses and they are systemically underpaid in America, society just assumes that all those tests, quizzes, papers, lesson plans, parent and student communications, and professional development tasks can be done after school hours and on the weekends. Our action is to send a loud and clear message that you cannot take workers' labor for granted just because the system historically and culturally does so.

Fight Back!: What are the current demands of the rank-and-file educators?

Jones: We have 3 demands.

A cost-of-living adjustment to the full 8% that the state allows.

That MMSD produces a budget that is student-centered, so cuts or adjustments are not at the cost of cutting school-level positions and increasing class sizes and workloads, which they have proposed in their initial budget.

That workers' autonomous time – breaks and preps – are protected instead of workers being forced to do unnecessary and time-consuming tasks that do little to improve student achievement and are meant to leverage power from the top to the bottom.

Fight Back!: So what's next for the educators with MTI?

Jones: We are still in the planning stages of subsequent actions, but given the district's lack of interest in moving forward on a just budget, we anticipate our job actions to continue throughout the summer and fall, when students will be coming into school. A lot of unpaid and unrecognized labor goes into preparing for the next school year. If workers set limits on that unrecognized work, it would throw a wrench in administration's plans.

Fight Back!: How can people support MTI in its present and future struggles?

Jones: Thank you for asking. We are asking community members to engage the five actions in the online document that has been posted. This includes signing our petition, contacting the MMSD Board of Education, subscribing and sharing our social media outreach, and speaking up for workers.

Fight Back!: Looking ahead and beyond these immediate fights, would MTI be interested in collaborating with other unions and progressive community and student organizations from across the state to renew the fight against anti-labor laws like Act 10 and Right to Work?

Jones: We are ready and willing to work with all stakeholders for a more just society! We lead an education justice coalition to address school food security with community and student groups. And we financially and systemically support social justice organizations and unions allied with our values. We can do this work when we are connected and know we are not alone in the struggle!

#MadisonWI #TeachersUnion #TeachersUnions

Chicago, IL – The bell rang, and teachers, staff and students slowly rolled out the school doors. Today they were all wearing union red at the two Instituto del Progeso Latino (IDPL) schools in Chicago. They grabbed signs and started to chant and picket, “Who’s schools? Our schools!”

Many educators spoke of a toxic workplace where there is no response to staff concerns. “Our boss doesn’t respect the educators or the students at Instituto,” said CTU Council Chair Skot Holcombe, “in spite of this, we are fully united in the fight for our students and for our union.”

As the school year rolls past spring break, workers at the 12 unionized charter networks in Chicago are without a contract. The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) represents about 1200 members at 35 schools who are demanding equal pay for equal work and fully staffed schools with the social and emotional supports students deserve.

Days earlier a similar protest happened at the Chicago School for the Arts where the school’s private sector board cancelled its regular meeting rather than face protesters demanding that they put the public tax money they receive from Chicago Public Schools into classrooms, not boardrooms.

And more is yet to come. CTU has announced that it will protest the management of Acero Charter Schools at their board meeting on Wednesday, April 19. Acero is the largest unionized charter school network in Chicago, with 15 schools. CTU has also announced that it will participate in the Chicago May Day rally and march on April 29.

“Four year ago, we simultaneously – and successfully – struck three employers, including Instituto, on May Day. This is an important day of struggle for our educators, our students and the entire working class,” said Chris Baehrend, who was the chair of the CTU Charter School Division at that time.

The multiemployer contract battle in the Chicago charter schools promises to give an interesting finish to the 2022-23 school year

#ChicagoIL #teachers #TeachersUnions

The teachers and support staff aimed the message at legislators. They demanded relief from staffing shortages, raised awareness of the impact of these attacks on their working conditions and students’ learning conditions, and pushed back against the attempt to gut their union.

The rally began at the Saint Pete City Hall, and marched to the Tomlinson Adult Learning Center, nearby, which before it was closed and sold by the county, taught GED seekers and immigrants for 100 years. The county cited high cost of living downtown as a reason that enrollment declined and turned around to sell the lot to build high-priced luxury condos, according to event organizers.

As the protesters made their way through downtown, they were met with cheers and honks from supportive members of the community.

“We won’t be fooled,” said PCTA President Nancy Velardi, as she explained that the so called “teachers bill of rights,” SB 244, and the bill targeting public sector unions, SB 256, would do anything but protect teachers, as it requires 60% representation of teachers or face decertification. Decertifying the union would leave the teachers without representation in bargaining and negotiations with school boards. As bad as this part of the bill is, it also bans all union materials in the workplace, and bans direct withdrawals from members’ paychecks toward their union dues.

Leaving the Department of Education to protect teachers’ rights is like, “your principal, or your boss, telling you they’re going to look out for you. That’s why we have unions in the first place,” according to Velardi.

The teachers’ union has been a vocal advocate for their members, speaking out recently against the state’s drive to re-open schools in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic that would and has resulted in children and teachers getting sick, worsening the staffing crisis that the legislature has complained about.

Speakers from the PESPA, members of both unions, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Students for a Democratic Society, and the Pinellas Tenant’s Union, all spoke about the intertwined attacks on housing affordability, attacks on higher education, and against African Americans, with the recent banning of a Ruby Bridges movie – which tells the story of the six-year-old African American girl who first integrated New Orleans public schools – because one Pinellas parent objected.

DeSantis has unleashed a torrent of right-wing garbage this legislative session, as his right-wing minions scramble to do his bidding, the bidding of big business and a host of other reactionaries. Because when he targets teachers unions, the most unionized profession in Florida, DeSantis and his backers really are also targeting workers in general, hoping to terrorize them into accepting substandard and unsafe conditions and pay and leaving them without a voice in negotiations.

DeSantis has also pushed through a “school choice” bill, that would gut funding of public education. It would provide $8000 coupons for anyone to send their children to charter schools, which would be free to discriminate against special needs students. PESPA President Nelly Henjes explained that would result in, “those students coming back to us, in the public schools, after we’ve had our money taken away.” This giveaway to millionaires aligns perfectly with DeSantis’ tax giveaways to his big business backers over the past few years.

But in light of all these attacks on workers, students and parents, today’s rally disproved the expectation in Tallahassee that workers would roll over and not stand up against these attacks, or that the community wouldn’t rally to the side their teachers. Speakers emphasized the importance of joining militant unions that fight for their members, now more than ever.

#StPetersburgFL #TeachersUnions #PinellasClassroomTeachersAssociationPCTA

Bartow, FL – About 40 teachers and supporters protested in downtown Bartow on Saturday, April 1 demanding funding for public schools and protection of collective bargaining rights. The Polk Education Association hosted a picnic at their union hall followed by a march to State Senator Ben Albritton’s office. The PEA protest as part of a statewide day of action against Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida legislature’s attacks on teachers’ unions.

Ben Albritton is the senate majority leader who will vote on two important bills in Florida’s legislative session this year. SB 202 allows private schools to get state funding that is currently for public schools alone. SB 256 removes automatic deduction of union dues from paychecks and raises union membership requirements from 50% to 60%. If these bills pass, Florida teachers will lose funding and risk having their unions decertified.

Stephanie Yocum, president of Polk Education Association said DeSantis is “scared of our collective action and our collective voice. He is more worried about trying to destroy our voice as regular working people to score political points to become president. And he is making leaders like Senator Albritton, who have not stood up to him, become part of the problem.”

At the picnic, teachers made signs and wrote postcards explaining how these bills would affect their jobs. During the march, protesters chanted, “Union busting? That’s disgusting!” and “Public funds belong in public schools!”

“As a constituent of Senator Albritton, I need him to listen to regular Floridians like me and you,” said Yocum to the crowd during her speech.

PEA left the postcards and signs at Albritton’s doorstep. The march circled downtown with drivers honking and waving in support.

#BartowFL #TeachersUnion #TeachersUnions

Los Angeles, CA – With chants of, “We are the union, the mighty, mighty union – fighting for justice, respect and fair wages,” 30,000 SEIU and UTLA teachers and service workers in Los Angeles went on strike from March 21 to March 23. Los Angeles Unified School District and SEIU’s contract expired in 2020, and, after three years of negotiations hitting dead ends, they decided to strike, and they are determined to win better wages, healthcare and staffing.

Even in the cold rain, they were out in full force with strikes at many of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools. Taking place from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m., the pouring rain didn't stop workers from being out at the picket lines with chants and signs. There was high energy and good spirits from workers, and motorists showed support by honking.

On Tuesday, March 21 from noon until 3 p.m., the unions and community held a kick-off rally downtown, where speakers like Yolanda Reed, an SEIU 99 shop steward said, “It’s high time we stopped being disrespected. The intimidation must stop now. We, you, me are the union – and when we fight, we win.”

Thousands of SEIU and LAUSD workers filled the street with signs and chants of the demands they are determined to win. “Students are not the victims of the strike, we are in solidarity with it,” said one student. LAUSD parent Anna Dehan said, “Today is about respect. Respect is a living wage. For years, public schools exploited essential workers. That ends now.” The rally was a collective effort from not only the workers but from students and parents alike in a show of solidarity for a better future for the workers at LAUSD.

The strike continued for two more days until ending Thursday afternoon. After the picket lines wrapped up on Wednesday, there were rallies at many locations around the city, including outside LAUSD East headquarters in Boyle Heights, with great turnout. On the last day of the strike, a final rally at Los Angeles State Historic Park featured musical performances and striking workers marching in the street. Even on the last day, the workers were full of energy and determination, showing no signs of giving up on their demands.

Now that the strike is over, SEIU and LAUSD have reached a settlement, which includes a 30% wage increase, an increase in salary, and retroactive pay of $4000 to $8000. They will be heading back to work on Friday, March 24. UTLA is still trying to reach an agreement, and if the strikes and rallies are any sign, UTLA is ready to continue fighting. One of UTLA’s key demands is a 20% raise over two years, and LAUSD is unwilling to negotiate more than a 14% raise over three years.

Even though the strike is over, and teachers are back to school, another strike is not out of the question and the workers proved they will not back down. The inspiring SEIU 99/UTLA strike demonstrates how the working class has everything to gain when we stand up and fight back.

#LosAngelesCA #TeachersUnions #UTLAStrike

Los Angeles, CA – At 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday March 21, over 30,000 school workers in the Los Angeles Unified School (LAUSD) including food service workers, custodians, special education assistants and many more job titles will walk off the job on a strike. The workers are members of SEIU Local 99, also known as Education Workers United.

LAUSD and SEIU Local 99 have been in contract negotiations since 2020. After three years of bargaining, they decided to call a strike to show the boss they are serious about winning a contract with significant wage increases, expanded health care benefits and sufficient staffing and resources to keep schools clean and safe.

On Friday, March 17 LAUSD filed charges saying that a strike by the school workers would be against the law. However, those charges were quickly found to not have merit and dismissed. The union members say they are ready to move forward with the strike as planned.

David Huerta is the president of SEIU California and SEIU United Service Workers West. Huerta released the following statement about the strike.

“Workers’ right to take collective action – free from threats or intimidation – is what binds us together as a labor movement. We won’t stand by while a powerful employer like LAUSD bullies and harasses workers to gain leverage at the bargaining table. SEIU members in California – 700,000 strong – stand united with SEIU Local 99 school workers who are striking to demand the district respect their fundamental rights. School workers have our unwavering support as they bargain in good faith for wages that allow them to put food on the table for their own children and for the staffing and support that matters to all students in LAUSD.”

The strike is set to run from 4:30 a.m. Tuesday through the school day on Thursday.

#LosAngelesCA #PeoplesStruggles #strike #LAUSD #Strikes #TeachersUnions

Los Angeles, CA – On March 15, the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) and SEIU Local 99, which represents cafeteria workers, bus drivers, custodians, teacher assistants and other education workers, held a massive rally at Grand Park in Downtown Los Angeles. The action culminated with the announcement that UTLA and SEIU Local 99 would go on a joint three-day strike, the first in the two unions’ history, from March 21-23.

Enthusiastic delegations of union members arrived from all over the LA area carrying their schools’ banners or posters. Members of Centro CSO, a longtime ally of UTLA, joined the mass rally in solidarity.

Both unions, which together represent roughly 65,000 workers in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), have been in contract negotiations with the district for close to a year and are fighting for their members to be able to survive as inflation rises in Los Angeles. The district, led by superintendent Alberto Carvalho, have only responded with counter offers that show a disregard for the wellbeing of LAUS