Why American teachers have had enough — and what they’re doing to organize

Episode 87 Sneak Peek

As Amazon and Starbucks workers transform their respective industries by organizing unions, teachers across the country are fighting their own labor struggles, striking for healthcare, fair pay, better training programs, and more. More Perfect Union reports that, from 4,000 educators in Columbus, OH to over 500 university staff members in Washington, D.C., workers are walking out to demand sustainable, safe, and profitable jobs. Few anti-worker myths are as pervasive as the idea that teachers must sacrifice themselves to a profession they chose out of personal passion. But the truth is that the employers short-changing teachers across the country, in the middle of a teacher shortage, can afford to ensure that American educators receive the good pay and benefits they deserve.

To understand the conditions that led to this teacher shortage, as well as why teachers are striking across the country and what they stand to win, we’re joined this week by Eric Blanc, a historian and labor organizer. He’s assistant professor of labor studies at Rutgers, as well as the author of Red State Revolt: The Teachers’ Strike Wave and Working-Class Politics. From covering the teachers’ strike wave across the country to organizing with the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee, Eric has played an essential role in supporting and bringing awareness to teachers’ labor militancy. We hope you’ll join us for a discussion on the challenges teachers are facing as they take on some of the most important work in our society, how politicians have failed them, and what’s at stake as they organize for the future of their profession.

Paying subscribers will have access to this episode through Substack when it’s released Friday night as a video. Everyone else can enjoy the conversation when it’s released for free Saturday on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. If you’re looking for more current events coverage before then, visit Kyle’s channel for this video on the shake-up at CNN following their firing of Brian Stelter. Plus, in this video, Krystal and Saagar of Breaking Points discuss McConnell’s admission that the GOP might lose the Senate.