Hopes of U.S. union leaders for the movement's survival have been increasingly pinned on adoption of Canada-like labor legislation. Canadian labor legislation is in large part provincially based. This suggests that the states should legislate labor law. Highly improbable pro-union changes in labor law are needed to ensure the survival of unions.…

The study investigates on a pilot basis employer and union reactions to selected foreign-inspired changes in the American apprenticeship system. Recent developments in European apprenticeship are reviewed, and possible policies based on these foreign developments are proposed. The reactions of employers to these policies are assessed through a…

Results of a survey of 15 directors of large libraries revealed a consensus that despite their adversarial roles and the time and effort it takes to make the relationship work, unions are worth the trouble. Highlights include who runs the library, rewarding mediocrity, salaries, team versus individual, race, negotiating roles, and changes needed.…

Traces the history of Al Shanker's work in building the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), focusing on his tenure as president of the organization. During his presidency, the AFT won 1,249 elections involving half a million people and added 373 locals to its membership. (SLD)

In this collection of the writings and speeches of Al Shanker, the focus is on his interest in civil and human rights, for teachers, students, and the citizens of the world. Central to his views was the belief that education is the way to economic equality. (SLD)

In 2005, the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) and its teachers union, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), agreed to a groundbreaking contract that reformed outdated school staffing provisions. Specifically, the new contract changed the staffing process for teachers and schools in three major ways. First, it protected the right…

The state of teacher evaluation is a significantly and frequently neglected problem in public education, an enterprise that spends $400 billion annually on salaries and benefits. Because teacher evaluation is at the center of the quality of teaching in the nation's classrooms, it has the potential to be a powerful lever of teacher and school…

In this article, the author talks about UK Government's informal learning consultation by considering the role of the workplace. As John Denham set out at the launch of this consultation process in January, trade unions have been at the heart of such learning throughout their history; campaigning for education for all and for public libraries,…

This article highlights the contrasting views between presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama on school choice and teacher issues. Senator McCain, R-Arizona, has pledged to direct federal money to alternative teacher-certification programs, give parents more direct access to supplemental educational services, and expand private school…

Employing Bourdieu's notion of social field, this research conceptualizes New Jersey's alternate route to teacher certification as a contested arena, in which the interests, ideologies, and visions of different stake-holders regarding the character of public education have collided. Findings for this study are primarily based on data from the New…

In 2005 the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, the central organisation of unions in New Zealand, initiated a Learning Representatives Project based on the British model. The Government approved an eight-month programme to be funded through its Tertiary Education Commission to "scope the project". Work began not just on scoping, but on…

When they graduate I want them to feel, "I went through a real thing, not an approximation of college, but I went through college and that means something!" (Adjunct Instructor) This article explores the complexity of providing an academically rigorous college education to adult students enrolled in a union-supported worker education program…

By any measure, the representation of racially and ethnically underrepresented groups in the ranks of college and university faculty is disproportionately low compared with the general population or with the demographics of the undergraduate and graduate student populations, who are the training pool for higher education. In 2005-2006,…

In this article, policy and research on teacher induction in Portugal are examined. The lack of a formal induction system (despite recognition of its relevance in legal policy documents) and the mismatch between national regulations and practice are also discussed. The authors argue the need for a coherent and sustained induction and support…

This monograph by four authors examines the structure and role of teacher unions in the three Australian states of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, and analyzes the rapidly changing shape of teacher unionism at the federal level. After an introduction by Andrew Spaull, Robert White, in chapter 2, examines developments within the…