Recent union-supported teachers' walkouts and strikes across several U.S. states and cities highlighted union-led and grassroots efforts to amplify teachers' voices. Yet, the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, "Janus v. AFSCME, Council 31," provides a strength test for teachers' unions and members engaging in social justice/equity work…

With a new Governor, State Superintendent, and Legislators in Sacramento and a diminished federal role in education, there is an opportunity for California's leaders to take stock of recent educational reforms and make necessary improvements. Several high-profile reforms over the past few years, including the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF)…

Key findings from the current survey: (1) Most Californians say charter schools are an important option for parents in low-income areas--but many express concern that charters divert funding from traditional public schools; (2) More than half of residents across regions say teacher salaries in their community are too low; and (3) Majorities…

Teachers' unions find themselves on the defensive in states across the country, as governors and lawmakers press forward with proposals to target job protections and benefits that elected officials contend the public can no longer afford academically or financially. Many of those efforts are being driven by newly elected Republicans, who have…

A strike last week by some 29,000 teachers in Chicago pushed long-simmering tensions over deeply divisive school improvement ideas--including changes in teacher evaluation and the takeover or closure of underperforming schools--into the national spotlight. A framework for a tentative agreement emerged last Friday, and the union's house of…

Discusses judicial interpretations of Pennsylvania's Public Employee Relations Act which created the right of public school teachers to strike. (JF)

Discusses the experience of the Philadelphia School Board with the Public Employee Relations Act which permits public school teacher strikes. (JF)

One of the drafters of the Public Employee Relations Act discusses Pennsylvania's experience with the new right to strike clause in the Act. (EA)

Discusses some of the reasoning behind instigation of the Pennsylvania Public Employee Relations Act which permits public school teacher strikes. (JF)

Briefly describes types of binding arbitration that various states have adopted as a means of preventing teacher strikes. (IRT)

Reviews the concept of the "right" to strike, state laws allowing strikes, and court decisions establishing standards in this area. (IRT)

Findings from a study of the relationship between penalties for teacher strikes and strike deterrence demonstrate that mild and harsh penalties provide less deterrence than moderate ones. The optimal penalty for avoiding strikes was found to be the forfeiture of two days pay for each day on strike. (Author/WD)

THE AUTHOR STATES THAT GROWING DEMANDS BY ORGANIZED TEACHERS FOR NEGOTIATION CONCERNING EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND POLICY FORMULATION HAVE BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY A WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT SUCH BARGAINING THROUGH PROCEDURES WHICH DO NOT INTERRUPT ORDERLY SCHOOL OPERATION. TRADITIONAL LEGAL AUTHORITY OF LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO MAKE UNILATERAL POLICY…

A 1979 law enacted by the state of Connecticut in response to a lengthy and bitter teacher strike may have served as a catalyst to improve the negotiation process. The law mandated a mediation process and compulsory binding-interest arbitration. (Author/WD)