West Virginia Teachers Look to Strike Again
Republican legislators are trying to crush the teachers’ insurgency where it began — West Virginia. But the state’s teachers are preparing to strike again to stop them.
88 Articles by: Eric Blanc
Eric Blanc is an assistant professor of labor studies at Rutgers University. He is the author of Red State Revolt: The Teachers’ Strike Wave and Working-Class Politics and Revolutionary Social Democracy: Working-Class Politics Across the Russian Empire (1882-1917).
“This Wave Shows No Sign of Stopping”
The teachers’ strike wave is rolling on: today, Virginia educators are walking out. A rank-and-file teacher explains the movement’s emergence and what’s at stake.
Never Trust a Billionaire’s Antiracism
The Los Angeles strike wasn’t just a teachers’ victory. It was also a tale of two competing antiracist visions — one upheld by privatizing billionaires and another pushed by working people.
After LA’s Strike, “Nothing Will Be the Same”
The Los Angeles teachers’ strike was big, it was united, and now it’s victorious. We interview UTLA chief negotiator Arlene Inouye about how the strike turned the tables on the billionaire privatizers.
Billionaires vs. LA Schools
The Los Angeles teachers’ strike isn’t all about wages. At its core, the strike is a fight against a hostile takeover of public schools by the superrich.
Blue-State Revolt
It’s official: Los Angeles teachers just announced they are going to strike on January 10. They’re challenging not just public education privatizers, but the Democratic Party establishment.
How Class Should Be Central
A strategic focus on uniting the working class doesn’t mean marginalizing the struggle against racism and sexism.
Educators Versus Exxon
To demand an end to Louisiana’s giveaways to ExxonMobil, Baton Rouge school employees this week took an extraordinary step: they voted to go on a political strike.
“This is a Struggle to Save Public Education”
The teachers strike wave has reached Los Angeles: teachers there recently voted overwhelmingly to strike. They are fighting against school privatization, wage and benefit cuts, and the nationwide project to dismantle public education.
Teachers’ Strikes Are Escalating in Washington
To win their walkouts for better pay and better schools, educators are defying court injunctions and district-organized strikebreaking across Washington state.
Betting on the Working Class
The nationwide teachers’ strikes are a reminder that the working class is still the most powerful agent for radical change.
The Outcome in Arizona
After six days of striking, Arizona educators are returning to work. Jacobin spoke with three strike leaders to assess the settlement.
Arizona Versus the Privatizers
Arizona has long been ground zero for school privatization. Striking educators now have a chance to turn back the tide.
Arizona Prepares to Strike
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.
A Strategy to Win
The victory in West Virginia and the impasse in Oklahoma raise important questions for the Left. Drawing out the strategic lessons of these strikes is crucial for the fights ahead.
Red Oklahoma
A century ago, Oklahoma had the strongest socialist movement in the US. Today, there are signs it’s being reborn.
The Oklahoma Strike Is At a Crossroads
Oklahoma schools have been closed more than a week. But faced with Republican intransigence, the strike has now reached a critical turning point.
“This Is a Struggle of Regular Working People”
Kentucky schools are shut down today amid a growing grassroots worker rebellion. We spoke with one rank and filer who helped organize the action.
It’s Oklahoma’s Turn to Strike
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.
The Lessons of West Virginia
West Virginia’s historic wildcat strike has the potential to change everything.