Not Until It’s Safe: Educators and Community Protest Rushed School Reopening

Schools in New York City have been open for just four days. The kids aren't even in the classroom yet and 55 people have already tested positive for Covid-19. Teachers across the city organized pickets protesting against unsafe reopening of NYC schools.

The PRO Act: Biden’s Latest Lie to Labor

Polls show that support for unions is rising. 60 million workers would join one if they could. At a Labor Day event with the AFL-CIO, Biden outlined his plan to be labor’s “friend in the White House.” But the PRO Act will be betrayed just like the Employee Free Choice Act over a decade ago. Only class struggle will give us our rights.  

NYC Teachers Were About to Strike… Then Union Leaders Cut a Backroom Deal

On Tuesday, the City of New York and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) announced a handshake deal, made without the input of UFT members, that will allow schools to reopen with in-person instruction in late September. The deal, which was made less than a day before an expected strike authorization vote, does nothing, however, to address the vast majority of the safety problems in schools, and it does not make any inroads in allowing teachers with high-risk family members to teach remotely.

NYC School Workers Solidarity Campaign Rejects UFT President Michael Mulgrew’s Deal with Mayor Bill de Blasio

The union leadership of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) struck a deal on Tuesday with NYC city officials to postpone reopening by 10 days. This deal comes as the UFT Delegate Assembly was planning to vote for strike authorization against school reopening. Below we republish a press release from the NYC School Workers Solidarity Campaign on this decision.

The Po-Po Are a No-Go at SEIU Drop the Cops Town Hall

More than a hundred people from across the United States participated in the “SEIU Drop the Cops” virtual town hall. Panelists reported on organized labor’s struggle to kick out police and security guards and elaborated a list of broader anti-racist demands. Speakers called on the broader labor movement to take up the fight against police terror and revitalize the unions through democratic debate and mass, anti-racist struggle.

PSC-CUNY President Finally Says the S Word

Will CUNY workers finally go on strike? With public school teachers in New York City threatening a strike of their own, PSC leadership implied last week that a possible strike is on the table. With 3,000 part time workers laid off this summer and more cuts expected, and racial capitalism ravaging the CUNY community under the pandemic, a strike is long overdue.

Shut It Down: Arizona Teachers’ Mass Sick-Out Delay School Reopening

On Saturday, Arizona teachers flexed their muscles. They called out sick and delayed the unsafe reopening of schools that will put many in danger. This is just a small taste of what a nationwide teachers’ strike would look like.

CUNY Union Lawsuit Fails; Workers Need a Strike

The faculty and staff union’s request for a court injunction to reinstate 2,800 workers laid off by CUNY earlier this summer has been denied. By relying on the lawsuit instead of preparing for a strike, the union leadership has failed to protect the jobs --- and health insurance --- of its members.

More Healthcare Workers Have Died of Covid-19 in Brazil than Anywhere Else in the World

Hundreds of nurses have died in Brazil as a result of the coronavirus.