• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Rank and File

Rank and File

trade unionism from below

  • News
  • Support
  • Subscribe
    • About
    • Contribute
    • Contact Us
Close
  • About
  • Contribute
  • Contact Us

The West Virginia Teachers’ Strike Reader

3/8/2018

180306-west-virginia-teachers-strike-al-1021_fe2c19e721b1b9a88f3c23289ec9b122.nbcnews-ux-2880-1000Teachers in West Virginia went on strike on February 22 against low-pay and attacks on their healthcare. After nine days of a statewide strike which shutdown public schools in West Virginia teachers won a substantial pay increase. This victory is significant because the teachers struck and won in the heart of Trump country. West Virginia is also a right-to-work state and the successful teachers strike shows that you can organize and win even if the law is against you.

This is an important lesson for all unions as the unions in the United States will most likely see the Supreme Court expand right-to-work conditions to the entire public sector in the United States via the Janus case. West Virginia’s teachers went on strike, rejected a rotten deal and have now lit a fire under teachers unions across the country. Teachers and all trade unionists should look to the West Virginia teachers’ strike for lessons about how to organize and win even when the law and politicians are lined up against you. RankandFile.ca presents a list of readings about the strike, how it was organized, what it won, and why it is significant:

The Lesson From West Virginia Teachers? If You Want to Win, Go on Strike by Miles Kampf-Lassin

What the Teachers Won interview with Emily Comer/ Jay O’Neal

The teachers united couldn’t be defeated by Khury Petersen-Smith and Dana Blanchard

WV Teachers Show Us How to Fight the ‘Janus’ Attack by Robert Belano and William Lewis

The West Virginia Strike Points a Path Forward for the Labor Movement by Jane McAlevey

West Virginia teachers’ triumph offers fresh hope for US workers’ rights by Mike Elk

It Was About the Insurance Fix by Meagan Day

Striking West Virginia teachers show the way by Kevin Prosen

West Virginia teachers won’t back down by Michael Mochaidean

West Virginia’s Militant Minority by Eric Blanc

Inside the West Virginia teachers’ rebellion by Tyler Barton and Lori Boegershausen

When the Rank and File Leads by Cathy Kunkel

There Is No Illegal Strike, Just an Unsuccessful One by Joe Burns

West Virginia Teachers Are Now Out on a Wildcat Strike. The Labor Movement Should Follow Their Lead by Katie Aronoff

West Virginia Teachers Launch Statewide Strike by Jonah Furman and Dan DiMaggio

Teacher unrest spreads to Oklahoma, where educators are “desperate for a solution” by Rachel M. Cohen

Share this...
Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
Linkedin

By RF

Categories // strategy & tactics, strike, teachers

Tags // featured

Reader Interactions

Support rankandfile.ca

RankandFile.ca is committed to building a network of rank-and-file labour activists across the country. We believe sharing stories, experiences, debate, and analysis around our collective struggles strengthens our movement and builds solidarity.

Donate now

Join our
mailing list

  • Find us onTwitter
  • Find us onFacebook
  • Find us onInstagram

Rand and File logo
Copyright © Rank and File, 2023. All rights reserved.