Teacher Strikes

Education news, analysis, and opinion about labor actions by teachers that close or disrupt schools

Explainer

Jennyerin Steele Staats, a special education teacher from Jackson County, W.Va., joins other striking teachers as they demonstrate outside the state capitol in Charleston, W.Va., on Feb. 27.
Teacher Strikes: 4 Common Questions
Education Week takes a look at how common statewide teacher strikes are and where they're most likely to happen.
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School & District Management Opinion What the Teacher and Classified-Staff Strike in Sacramento Means for the Country
If school district leaders changed their mindset about the concept of sharing power, students would be among the beneficiaries.
Larry Ferlazzo, March 31, 2022
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6 min read
Teachers hold a rally outside the Senate Chambers in the West Virginia Capitol in Charleston, W.Va., on March 5, 2018. A West Virginia state senator introduced a bill on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, that would allow striking teachers to be fired. The bill also would allow county boards of education to order the pay of an employee to be forfeited for each day of their participation in a strike.
Teachers hold a rally outside the Senate Chambers in the West Virginia Capitol in Charleston on March 5, 2018. A new working paper shows teacher strikes put education issues front and center in political campaigns.
Tyler Evert/AP
Teaching Profession When Teachers Strike, Education Becomes More Prevalent in Political Campaigns, Study Finds
Teacher strikes have a profound and often unrecognized role in national politics, a new working paper suggests.
Madeline Will, October 27, 2021
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4 min read
Images shows hand drawn group of protestors.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Teaching Profession Teachers Walk Off the Job at Chicago’s Urban Prep
With just two weeks left to the school year, teachers went on strike over what they say is a lack of support for special education students.
Karen Ann Cullotta, Chicago Tribune, June 8, 2021
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3 min read
Teaching Profession New York City Teachers' Union Threatens Strike Over School Reopenings
The possibility of a strike in New York City's schools grew more distinct this week. Unions are pressing their cases in other districts, too.
Catherine Gewertz, August 20, 2020
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6 min read
Teaching Profession Across the Country, Teachers Rally for Safe Reopenings and Police-Free Schools
A coalition of teachers' unions and progressive groups organized a "National Day of Resistance" to fight against school building reopenings.
Madeline Will, August 3, 2020
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4 min read
Teaching Profession Strikes Are an Option to Force Schools to Reopen Safely, AFT President Says
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said the union would pursue lawsuits and "safety strikes" if necessary.
Madeline Will, July 28, 2020
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3 min read
Local teacher Lisa Vaaler joins other teachers as they hold a #Return2SchoolSafely Motor March protest Wednesday, July 15, 2020, in Phoenix. Several Arizona teachers voiced fears about returning to school in a state that continues to be ravaged by the coronavirus.
Local teacher Lisa Vaaler joins other teachers as they hold a #Return2SchoolSafely Motor March protest Wednesday, July 15, 2020, in Phoenix. Several Arizona teachers voiced fears about returning to school in a state that continues to be ravaged by the coronavirus.
AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
School & District Management Teachers Are Scared to Go Back to School. Will They Strike?
In the push to reopen schools, many teachers feel their voices aren't being heard. Will they take lessons from their recent protests and fight to protect their health?
Madeline Will, July 20, 2020
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8 min read
Teaching Profession Florida Ed. Department Threatens to Fire Thousands of Teachers Rallying for Higher Pay
Thousands of teachers, parents, and other supporters are expected to call for higher pay and more school funding—despite threats from the state that participating teachers could lose their jobs.
Madeline Will, January 13, 2020
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4 min read
Federal How Teacher Strikes Could Factor in 2020 Elections
The recent Chicago Teachers Union strike drew attention from Democratic presidential candidates in Illinois, a state won by Democrats in the last White House contest. For 2020, it's possible we could see a twist on that story: big-city teacher strikes in states with less predictable outcomes.
Andrew Ujifusa, November 26, 2019
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5 min read
Teaching Profession In Little Rock, Ark., Teachers to Strike for Collective Bargaining Power
Teachers in Little Rock, Ark., will be on the picket lines Thursday for only the second time in the school district's history.
Madeline Will, November 13, 2019
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3 min read
School & District Management Briefly Stated Briefly Stated: Stories You May Have Missed (Nov. 13, 2019)
A collection of short news stories from the last week.
November 12, 2019
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7 min read
Teaching Profession Chicago's Teacher Strike Is Finally Over After 11 Days
The Chicago Teachers Union has reached a deal with the district to make up five of the 11 missed instructional days and end the strike.
Madeline Will, October 31, 2019
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3 min read
Teaching Profession Chicago Teachers Have a Deal With the City, But Will Stay on Strike for 11th Day
The Chicago Teachers Union delegates approved a tentative agreement, but will remain on strike until the mayor agrees they can make up the missed days.
Madeline Will, October 30, 2019
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4 min read
English-Language Learners Briefly Stated Briefly Stated: Stories You May Have Missed
Education Week catches you up on the week gone by with a thoughtful look at recent news in K-12 education.
October 29, 2019
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6 min read
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