Teachers unions at the crossroads

[IndianaGreen]

Teachers unions at the crossroads

Lee Sustar reports from the American Federation of Teachers convention in Seattle.

July 9, 2010

WILL THE teachers unions dig in and fight--or keep retreating in the face of the greatest attack on teacher unionism in half a century?

That question was in the air as American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten gave the keynote address July 8 on the opening day of the union's biannual convention, held this year in Seattle.

But despite some sharp rhetoric, Weingarten's speech showed that teachers union leaders are still seeking collaboration--while their opponents are hell-bent on confrontation.

http://socialistworker.org/2010/07/09/teachers-at-a-crossroads

[msongs]

1. sad time to be a teacher in an era where the current administration conspires with corporations nt

[donco6]

2. Without new leadership, they'll cave again and again.

Both NEA and AFT have to find someone with a backbone.

[Jefferson23]

3. This fight is very difficult to take on. I'm not sure what they can do,

but networking might help. All teachers, especially in wealthy school districts where charters are not cropping up, need to unite. Also, perhaps a forum of websites that are constructed in line with a FactCheck approach, as Duncan's policies are not challenged within the
MSM. How many parents know about Diane Ravitch's opinion on this subject, I suspect not a large percentage.

Right now, the teachers have very little leverage if any as Duncan is controlling the message.

And this from the OP is an excellent idea: WEINGARTEN'S CALLS for compromise were, nevertheless, punctuated by a call to action. The highlight of the convention's opening day was a speech by NAACP President Benjamin Jealous, who called for the union to join other labor and civil rights organizations for a national march for jobs on October 2 in Washington, D.C.

I hope she listens.

[MichiganVote]

4. The destruction began with reagan, accelerated with Bush, hit the stratosphere with Obama.

George Bush might not have liked black people. Obama hates teachers.

This isn't about education. This isn't about unions. This isn't about teachers.

Its about wealthy people who could give a crap about anyone's kids but their own.