Chicago teachers again lead the way: Union reformers are re-elected

Hats off - again - to Chicago's smart, courageous teachers and the union leadership they've re-elected, from the Caucus of Rank and File Educators (CORE), including Karen Lewis as Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) president.

Greek children starve - and teachers are blamed for the crisis

The union representing Greek secondary school teachers has asked for messages of support.  The Greek government has banned its strike and other public employee unions have come out in support of the teachers. Mary Compton's newly-reconfigured website about teachers' global resistance to neoliberalism's destruction of public education has the information about the strike and how/where to send messages of support.  

Yoo hoo to the AFT and NEA: Support the Garfield teachers, for real

Teachers at Garfield HS in Seattle, Washington are re-launching the MAP test boycott of the spring  test with a press conference at which they will announce important developments. Garfield  teachers are concerned that because evaluations are  directly tied to the spring version of the test, the district will not give the same leeway for their boycott this spring.

Students fighting for their future - and ours - in Santiago, Newark, Chicago

Student protests in defense of public education as a right are spreading across the globe. The courage young people are showing is remarkable, as they confront governments who do the bidding of bankers while pretending to put "students first."  Student protests in Chile have resumed, with between 80,000 - 150,000 young people taking to the streets in Santiago, to demand free public education.

How to understand that "fawning interview" with Bill Gates - look to the World Bank

     In her informative blog, Diane Ravitch refers, correctly,to a "fawning interview" with Bill Gates. I think we have to move beyond these visceral reactions to understand why this is occurring. And to do that, we have to look at the international picture. I've been told that when I discuss this international picture, it sounds like I'm describing a "conspiracy." Heavens no! Conspiracies are secret, and this is a public project.

Teachers are guilty of "labour terrorism"?

Teachers are guilty of "labour terrorism"? Sounds too ridiculous to take seriously?

Towards meaningful solidarity? Union democracy too?

As readers of New Politics and/or my new book probably know, I'm not bashful about criticizing the politics and policies of the international confederation of teachers unions, the Education International (EI). So what does it mean that the EI has just published my blog about what EI should be doing - but isn't?

Notes on teacher unionism in the UK - same struggle as here

Preamble: Last weekend I spoke at the annual conference of the National Union of Teachers (NUT)  in Liverpool, the UK's largest teachers union. Largest in Europe too, I think. (NUT - correct me if I'm wrong, please.)

Timing of the Chicago School closings?

 Rahm Emanuel has timed these school closings to frighten Chicago teachers, to punish them for their successful challenge to the rich and powerful who control Chicago's schools, to make Chicago teachers doubt their strength -- and to sway the upcoming union election.

President Pena Nieto on a Roll

     Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto is definitely on a roll. For Peña Nieto, the Institutional Revolutionary Party which he heads, and the business class that he represents, things could hardly be going better.

     Even before becoming president, the former administration of Felipe Calderón of the even more conservative National Action Party (PAN) passed the Labor Law Reform sought by business organizations since the 1980s.