Unions

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, talks during a news conference in front of the Richard R. Green High School of Teaching on Sept. 8, 2020.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, talks during a news conference in front of New York City's Richard R. Green High School of Teaching on Sept. 8, 2020.
Mark Lennihan/AP
Federal Teachers' Union Leader Raises Concerns About CDC's Eased Distancing Guidelines for Schools
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten is "not convinced" evidence supports the new COVID-19 mitigation recommendation.
Evie Blad, March 23, 2021
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5 min read
Penny Cracas, right, with the Chester County, Pa., Health Department, administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to Robert Dando, a school nurse, late last year in West Chester, Pa.
Penny Cracas, right, with the Chester County, Pa., Health Department, administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to Robert Dando, a school nurse, late last year in West Chester, Pa.
Matt Slocum/AP
Teaching Profession 1 in 5 Educators Have Been Vaccinated, NEA Survey Finds
About one-fifth of teachers in the nation's largest teachers' union have had a COVID-19 vaccine; another 18 percent have scheduled a shot.
Madeline Will, February 9, 2021
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3 min read
Elementary 1 teacher Melissa Vozar sits outside of Suder Elementary in Chicago to teach a virtual class on Jan. 11, 2021. The Chicago Teachers Union said that its members voted to defy an order to return to the classroom before they are vaccinated against the coronavirus, setting up a showdown with district officials who have said such a move would amount to an illegal strike.
Teacher Melissa Vozar sits outside of Suder Elementary in Chicago to teach a virtual class in protest of her district's reopening plans.
Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP
Teaching Profession In Chicago and Other Big Cities, Teachers' Unions Are Delaying School Reopenings
The Chicago Teachers Union struck a tentative deal with the city to slow the reopening of schools. Other unions have had similar success.
Madeline Will, February 8, 2021
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7 min read
Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago teachers union listens to a question after a meeting of the union's House of Delegates in Chicago. Lewis says she is stepping down because her battle with brain cancer has made it impossible to do her job "at my best." Lewis said Friday, June 22, 2018, that she's submitted her retirement papers to the Chicago Board of Education. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
Karen Lewis, former president of the Chicago Teachers Union, listens to a question after a meeting of the union's House of Delegates in Chicago on Sept. 14, 2012. The union confirmed Lewis' death on Monday. She was 67.
Charles Rex Arbogast/AP
Teaching Profession Obituary Karen Lewis, Firebrand Former Chicago Teachers Union President, Dead at 67
Karen Lewis, the firebrand former Chicago Teachers Union president who led a seven-day strike in 2012, has died, the CTU confirmed Monday.
Katherine Rosenberg-Douglas, John Byrne & Juan Perez Jr., February 8, 2021
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9 min read
A parent, center, completes a form granting permission for random COVID-19 testing for students as he arrives with his daughter, left, at P.S. 134 Henrietta Szold Elementary School on Dec. 7, 2020, in New York.
A parent, center, gives consent for random COVID-19 testing for students as he arrives with his daughter, left, at P.S. 134 Henrietta Szold Elementary School in New York last December.
Mark Lennihan/AP
School & District Management Can Schools Really Reopen in 100 Days? How Staffing Could Hobble Biden's Plan
President Biden's vow to reopen schools depends on one of the biggest uncertainties in K-12 right now: assembling enough staff to run them.
Catherine Gewertz & Stephen Sawchuk, January 27, 2021
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10 min read
Cyndi Pristello, a school wide support teacher at JoAnna Connell Elementary School, greets students and their families on April 18, 2020, as they drive through the school's parking lot during a drive-by parade. The school will begin online classes on April 20 after being closed due to the coronavirus shutdown.
A teacher greets students and families during a drive-by parade in Erie, Penn. Many schools around the country remain closed, and some teachers say they're taking heat for it.
Jack Hanrahan/Erie Times-News via AP
Teaching Profession Has the Public Turned on Teachers?
The rift over when school buildings should reopen has caused teachers to feel like they've lost public support. But have they?
Madeline Will, January 25, 2021
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12 min read
supreme court SOC
Getty
Law & Courts High Court Declines Appeals From Teachers Seeking Union-Fee Refunds Based on 'Janus' Case
The justices refused several appeals that sought to revive bids for refunds of years of collective-bargaining fees by union objectors.
Mark Walsh, January 25, 2021
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4 min read
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden hug as they arrive at the North Portico of the White House on Jan. 20, 2021.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden hug as they arrive at the North Portico of the White House on inauguration day.
Alex Brandon/AP
Federal Early Education Department Appointees Have Links to Jill Biden, Teachers' Unions
President Joe Biden's 12 appointments have links to the players who could exert the most influence on the new administration's K-12 policy.
Andrew Ujifusa, January 22, 2021
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4 min read
Miguel Cardona, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of Education, speaks after being introduced at The Queen Theater in Wilmington, Del., on Dec. 23, 2020.
Miguel Cardona, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of Education, speaks after being introduced at The Queen Theater in Wilmington, Del., on Dec. 23, 2020.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
Federal Where Biden's Choice for Education Secretary Stands on Key K-12 Issues
Connecticut Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona, Biden's pick for education secretary, has taken positions on an array of K-12 issues.
Evie Blad, December 22, 2020
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8 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Teaching Profession Opinion Biden's Victory Will Complicate Union Resistance to School Reopening
If Biden says kids should be back in school, unions can no longer insist school reopening is just a Trumpian rush back to business as usual.
Rick Hess, December 3, 2020
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5 min read
Image of a person speaking into a megaphone and their voice amplified as shown through blue ripples across the space.
Laura Baker/Education Week + DigitalVision Vectors + Getty
Teaching Profession How Teachers' Unions Are Influencing Decisions on School Reopenings
With coronavirus cases surging, labor groups are often pushing for a conservative approach to getting teachers and kids back in buildings.
Madeline Will, December 2, 2020
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9 min read
Law & Courts Supreme Court Won't Hear Challenge to Union Exclusive Representation
The justices declined to take up a major challenge to exclusive-bargaining arrangements for teachers' unions and other public employee labor organizations.
Mark Walsh, October 5, 2020
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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 New NEA President: 'We Are Not Going to Put Our Students at Risk' for COVID-19
Becky Pringle, the next president of the National Education Association, said she would support teachers in "whatever actions they need to take" to protect the health of students and staff.
Madeline Will, August 6, 2020
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9 min read
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