Responds to a commentary on the author's changed opinion about teacher unions, expressing disagreement with the commentary's portrayal of the author, examining the only point of agreement (the inappropriateness of the subtitle of an article on teacher unions), and explaining the author's change in views from supporting teacher unions to supporting…

Responds and takes exception to the assumptions and arguments of Myron Lieberman, who argues against teacher unionism and says it is the major obstacle to educational reform. After summarizing Lieberman's discussion of contemporary teacher unions, concludes that Lieberman is biased against teacher unions in his analysis of their contemporary…

The question of why there is so much teacher discouragement and frustration when the profession is enjoying higher salaries and better working conditions is addressed. (MT)

Discusses efforts to organize college faculty unions and mobilize college faculty for collective action on various issues at the University of Pittsburgh over the past 30 years, relating the examples to cases of similar higher education institutions in the U.S. Although there was controversy and opposition over the issue, there were cases where…

Teacher unions have faced significant criticism since their emergence three decades ago, resulting in serious reductions in their roles. Now, they are working to transform themselves, supporting educational reform initiatives while maintaining their advocacy role for teachers. The paper examines political, social, and organizational factors that…

Presents a conceptual framework for educational change that is based on systems and complexity theories and organizational change, illustrating how it works by discussing the strategies and achievements of some of the most progressive American teacher unions working to change education today. Strategies include developing internal coherence,…

Teachers are in a highly advantageous position to affect public policy in regard to education. How this political muscle has been and can be used is described. (MT)

Describes the need to reform teacher unions, highlighting the Rochester (New York) Teacher Association's commitment to union and school reform and examining the Teacher Union Reform Network (TURN). Created by the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers, TURN redesigns teachers' unions so they can be more effective…

Presents the history of the Newark Teachers Union, explaining how it reached out to teachers who had previously kept their distance by emphasizing professionalism and collective bargaining. However, 25 years later, teachers are disappointed because the Newark schools continued to decline despite the union victory, and the union itself became…

Describes the original four intents of teacher unionism, examining issues that have created controversy (e.g., inordinate amount of time devoted to issues not strictly related to wages, hours, and wage-related fringe benefits) and problems inherent in the bargaining process (e.g., abdication of administrative decision making). The paper discusses…

Examines some of the directions that modernization of teacher unionism has taken in the 1990s, explaining that the 1990s has been the decade of the Australian Education Union (AEU). The paper describes the AEU and looks at organizational changes within the AEU, industrial roles, and political roles that affect today's teacher unions in Australia.…

Albert Shanker made a significant mark on American political life and altered the politics of education and teacher unionism, though his politics often caused controversy and conflict. Through his long career as a teacher union leader, he helped revolutionize the nation's labor movement and its educational system, utilizing strategies from…

Peer review is one alternative for improving teacher evaluation and educational outcomes, offering teacher unions an expanded role in assuring teaching quality. It raises many issues for teachers and unions which need resolution if this shift in the authority relationship among teachers and between teachers and administrators is to be widely…

Examines peer review within new teacher unionism, noting that union neglect of peer review costs illustrates the sharp contrast in union attitudes toward change. The paper describes peer review costs (consulting teacher salaries and fringe benefits, mileage for consulting teachers, and administrator costs), discusses the union stake in peer…

Presents a history of teacher unionism in Canada, comparing it to the development of teacher unionism in the United States. Union membership was mandated, although teachers had (and still have) little power except that related to professional misconduct. Recently, structural changes have included the introduction of a provincially-legislated…