This stimulating 144-page anthology looks at exemplary practices of teacher unions from the local to the national level. It challenges the reader, while presenting stirring new visions of teacher unions for the 21st century. The 25 articles weave together issues of teacher unionism, classroom reform, working with local communities, and social justice.
Contributing authors include Howard Zinn, Dan Perlstein, Robert Lowe, Herbert Kohl, Ann Bastian, and many classroom teachers and union activists. Transforming Teacher Unions is a terrific tool for anyone working in or with teacher unions today.
Transforming Teacher Unions shows how unions can lead the way towards a more genuine profession for ourselves, more effective schools for all our students, and a more just society.
-Adam Urbanski, president of the Rochester Teachers Association and a vice president of the AFT.
Transforming Teacher Unions is divided into six main sections. Click on the section heading to jump directly to that section below. Click here to view the TTU Table of Contents in pdf format, or, return to the TTU home page.
Overview
Introduction
By Bob Peterson & Michael Charney
Survival & Justice: Rethinking Union Strategy
By Bob Peterson
A Hard Lesson from History
By Bob Peterson
Networking for Union Reform: The Story of TURN
By Barbara Miner
A New Vision of Schooling
By the Editors of Rethinking Schools
Promising Practices
Raising Professional Standards
By Tom Mooney
Teachers as Leaders in Cincinnati
By Monica Solomon
A Lead Teacher Speaks Out
An Interview with Diana Porter
Unions Can Create a Sense of Hope
By Michael Charney
Professionalism in Minneapolis: A New View
By Kris Berggren
Minneapolis Contract Excerpt
Rochester Teachers Struggle To Take Charge
By Christine E. Murray
Rochester Contract Excerpt
Don’t Sell Your Members Short
By Adam Urbanski
Confronting Racism in British Columbia
By Tom McKenna
Staffing & Seniority in Seattle
By Margie Slovan
Getting Out the Message
An Interview with Paulette Copeland
Milwaukee Contract Excerpt
Resisting Resistance to Change
An Interview with Mark Simon
Montgomery Co. Contract Excerpt
When Collective Bargaining is Prohibited
An Interview with Rukiya Dillahunt
Lessons From History
Why Teachers Should Know History
An Interview with Howard Zinn
Resources for Teaching Union History
Chicago Teachers’ Federation & Its Legacy
By Robert Lowe
If Not Now, When?: Teacher Unions in NYC
By Dan Perlstein
Facing Tough Decisions
By Herbert Kohl
The Prospects for a United Teachers Union
What Happened to the NEA/AFT Merger?
By Ann Bastian
Principles of Unity for a United Organization
By NEA & AFT
The New NEA: Reinventing Teacher Unions
By Bob Chase
Whither Public Education?
By Sandra Feldman
Organizing for the Future
Defending the Public Sector
An Interview with Bill Fletcher
The Strength of the Public Sector
By Bob Chase
The Market is Not the Answer
An Interview with Jonathan Kozol
A Review of “United Mind Workers”
By Bob Peterson
Social Justice Unionism: A Working Draft
By the National Coalition of Education Activists
Question & Answers
By Bob Peterson
Resources/Study Guide
Resources
Organizations & Books
Questions for Discussion
By Bob Peterson & Michael Charney
This stimulating 144-page anthology looks at exemplary practices of teacher unions from the local to the national level. It challenges the reader, while presenting stirring new visions of teacher unions for the 21st century. The 25 articles weave together issues of teacher unionism, classroom reform, working with local communities, and social justice.
Contributing authors include Howard Zinn, Dan Perlstein, Robert Lowe, Herbert Kohl, Ann Bastian, and many classroom teachers and union activists. “Transforming Teacher Unions” is a terrific tool for anyone working in or with teacher unions today.
Articles include:
Survival and Justice: Rethinking Union Strategy — By Bob Peterson
Raising Professional Standards — By Tom Mooney
A Teacher Leader Speaks Out — An Interview with Diana Porter
Staffing and Seniority in Seattle — By Margie Slovan
Resisting Resistance to Change — An Interview with Mark Simon
Facing Tough Decisions — By Herbert Kohl
The New NEA: Reinventing Teacher Unions — By Bob Chase
Fighting for Better Schools and Social Justice
Edited by Bob Peterson and Michael Charney