What It Will Take to Defeat the Capitalist Attack on Public Education
Lessons of the Teachers Revolt
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| A class-struggle leadership and union power are needed to shred the anti-strike laws! |
As the tide of walkouts by teachers and other school workers spread from state to state this spring, the entire country was amazed – not least, educators themselves. The power of labor action was demonstrated as at no other time since the mass strike that convulsed Wisconsin in 2011. But that went down to defeat, while this time some limited gains were won. This energized millions of working people who have only seen failed labor struggles for decades. At the same time, it underscored the need for a class-struggle leadership that is up to the task of defeating the capitalist attack on public education.
This time around, as soon as the movement receded in one state, it broke out in another. Republican governors and state legislators sought to pacify strikers with a little cash. Democratic politicians sought to divert the movement into electoral channels for the mid-term elections in November. The business press published articles trying to divine which state would be next. And the hidebound leadership of the unions tried to ride the wave while seeking (not very successfully) to curb the militancy. But this was only the first round, next time will be a lot harder.
In terms of the actual gains, teachers and staff in West Virginia got a 5% wage increase, which amounted to about $2,000 a year. In Oklahoma it was a $6,000 pay hike, and by the time the wave hit Arizona, the governor claimed to have granted 20% raise for teachers – which turned out to be less than 10% and no raise guaranteed for other school workers. The budget increases were barely a quarter of the cuts to education over the last decade. Teachers’ salaries in these states were at rock bottom of the pay scale nationally, and they still are. But the experience of beating back the bosses is key.
As explained in the article “Teacher Revolts Across U.S.” (see page 4), the teacher walkouts were by no means “wildcat strikes” or against the unions, as many in the big business media claimed, echoed by some misguided leftists. The strikes were initiated by the ranks, and the union tops tried to keep the lid on. AFT chief Randi Weingarten argued that the strikes are not relevant in places like New York, where unions are relatively strong. The “labor fakers” are scared to death of labor militancy. They yearn for class-collaborationist business as usual: lobbying, back-room deals and selling “labor peace” to the bosses.
So what are the key lessons of the spring 2018 teachers’ revolt? First of all, we must oust the bureaucracy that stands in the way of real class struggle.
Class Struggle Education Workers defends the unions against attacks by union-busters, even as we fight to oust the sellout bureaucracy. In every battle you have know who are your friends, and who are your enemies. It is necessary to be precise. The enemy is the bosses, the pro-capitalist labor bureaucracy is an obstacle, but the unions belong to the workers.
Second, it’s necessary to break with the Democrats and all the capitalist parties, including minor league outfits like the Green Party or the “Working Families Party,” which is just another ballot line for people to vote for Democrats while holding their noses.
The teachers unions are the organizational mainstay for the Democratic Party. In every election it is the AFT and NEA who ring the doorbells and phonebank. Then the Democrats turn around and push charter schools, punitive teacher evaluations, and the rest of the “reforms” that attack public education. Yet almost all opposition groups in teachers unions – and other unions – refuse to fight the Democrats. Once in power, they support the Dems, just as their predecessors did.
And third, it is necessary to forge a class-struggle leadership with a program to actually fight and win against a united ruling class. Republicans and Democrats, Trump and Clinton, may differ on Russia or “free trade,” but they are united in waging war on Korea and in the Middle East, in deporting millions of immigrants, and in privatizing schools. To defeat this capitalist onslaught, follow the lead of the Portland Painters union (IUPAT Local 10) which in 2016 refused to support “Democrats, Republicans or any bosses’ parties or politicians,” and called to build a “build a class-struggle workers party.”
We need a leadership that is prepared to do what it takes to shred no-strike laws. That means joining with the powerhouses of labor like Transport Workers Union Local 100 that can shut down New York. It means uniting all education workers – teachers, paraprofessionals, office staff, counselors, maintenance workers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers – together with students and parents for teacher-student-parent-worker control of the schools. In the next round of strike struggles, there should be elected strike committees including union members and non-members alike.
The union tops love to say that they’re “ready to rumble,” but their idea of a rumble is filing court briefs promising labor peace in exchange for keeping the dues checkoff and agency shop. We’re in a knock-down, drag-out class battle. Educators, workers, all the oppressed need a leadership that can and will fight to win. n
Class Struggle Education Workers (CSEW) is part of the fight for a revitalization and transformation of the labor movement into an instrument for the emancipation of the working class and the oppressed. See the CSEW program here.