USA:
Detroit teachers strike

by Jean Smith

Detroit teachers defied Michigan Governor John Engler's union-busting 
threats and walked out on strike on August 31, the first day of school, in 
their fight for better pay, smaller class sizes and quality education. 
There are 172,000 students in Detroit schools.

The 10,000 members of the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) rejected the 
advice of their union leadership by voting to strike.

The mood of the teachers grew angry as they read the tentative agreement 
for renewal of their union contract, presented to them by DFT President 
John Elliott. Teachers saw few of their proposals in the agreement and many 
punitive measures left in place.

The only "gain" for the teachers was a daily preparation period for 
elementary school teachers, who now only get three "prep" periods a week.

Concessions to the Board of Education included a revised evaluation 
procedure that would short-cut due process in rating a teacher 
"unsatisfactory," an appeal process for students' report card grades, pay 
steps tied to continued course work or professional development, and a full 
day of work the first day of school, which for decades has been a half day.

The board had removed its demand for an 8-1/2-hour workday.

Teachers were particularly angered by two terms of the tentative agreement, 
one which would set up a committee to study class size reduction instead of 
reducing it now, and another that tied pay increases to teacher attendance.

Unresolved issues included pay increases, longevity and attendance 
incentive bonuses, which the board wants removed, as well as imposing a 
dress code for teachers.

The situation in Michigan is now very anti-labour with a Republican 
controlled House, Senate and Governor.

Last March the state legislature voted to dissolve the elected Detroit 
School Board and transfer control of the schools to a board appointed by 
the governor and mayor.

Many teachers accused the governor and the new school board of trying to 
bust the union.

Teachers were warned by the union attorney that there is a new law with 
teeth in it, that can fine teacher a days' pay for every day on strike. 
However these warnings only aggravated the teachers further.

Teachers listening and reading the agreement got angrier and were urged to 
vote with their feet. A teacher called for those wanting to strike to go to 
one side of the room, and those wanting to extend the contract go to the 
other, so there would be no mistake of the vote of the membership.

The 3,500 present separated to the opposite sides of the room with about 
five times as many voting to strike. At that point Elliott said, "It's 
clear what the membership wants. Everyone report to the School Centre 
Building to picket."

The union and the Board of Education under-estimated the militancy of the 
teachers, who feel they have been pushed to the wall. "I don't want to 
strike. I don't want to be fined. But I can't accept these conditions", was 
a common sentiment expressed.

At press time, negotiations are continuing with a state mediator present, 
while teachers picket their schools.

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People's Weekly World, paper of Communist Party, USA