Lessons Learned From Social Justice Educator Unionists Organizing to Transform Schools and Society

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 35
  In Roundtable Session: Policy and People: Exploring the Use of Organizing and Activism in Education Policy

Abstract

Currently in the United States, there is a growing movement toward social justice/movement teacher unionism to resist attacks on public schools and unions (Scipes, 2015; Peterson, 2014/2015; Weiner, 2014). This study responds to Bevington & Dixon’s call for movement-relevant theory (2005) and looks to social justice educator caucuses to ask: How do educator unionists understand the tension between social justice unionism and contract unionism and attempt to overcome it? The findings suggest that there are important debates that are critical for activists to engage and learn from. These include building broad coalitions versus taking a stand, fighting for change within the union or locating the struggle within local schools, and the gendered perceptions about building relationships within a caucus.

Author

• Chloe Asselin, Graduate Center at the City University of New York