May Day Strong!
Interview with CTU activist Jesse Sharkey
by Alex Schmaus and Jesse SharkeyTempest member Alex Schmaus interviewed Chicago Teachers Union activist Jesse Sharkey about the May Day Strong Meeting at CTU headquarters on July 18, 2025.
NYC teachers may toss out union leaders
Grassroots discontent could end a sixty-year reign
by Peter Allen-Lamphere and Chris O’BrienThe country’s biggest teachers’ union may vote for a major change, but a three-way election is making the results hard to predict. Peter Allen-Lamphere and Chris O’Brien explain what’s at stake.
UFT retirees at the twilight of Shankerism
by Hakan Yilmaz
Hakan Yilmaz explains the significance of the recent defeat of the United Federation of Teachers’ Unity Caucus in the wake of its decades-long hegemony.
This is possible!
5th anniversary of the red state teachers’ rebellion, part two
by Darrin HoopIn 2018, teachers struck across the South and won significant gains for educators. In this second of two articles, Darrin Hoop interviews four rank-and-file workers about their experience and draws lessons for labor organizing today.
This is possible!
5th anniversary of the red state teachers’ rebellion
by Darrin HoopIn 2018, teachers struck across the South. These strikes were initiated and led by the rank-and-file in states that do not recognize collective bargaining and won significant gains for educators. In this first of two articles, Darrin Hoop interviews four rank-and-file workers about their experience and draws lessons for labor organizing today.
Reflections on the Oakland teachers’ strike
How to gauge an outcome
by Bill BalderstonBill Balderston assesses the challenges and victories of the Oakland educators strike.
Vote no and fight for more
NYC teachers should reject this deal
by Keegan O'BrienFive years ago, New York City forced its teachers to take cuts in health coverage. This year they’re offering a sub-inflation raise. Keegan O’Brien calls for a NO vote and explains how to build a fight to win more.
This is what solidarity looks like!
An interview with LA educators
by Alex SchmausAlex Schmaus interviews UTLA member Thalía Cataño and SEIU Local 99 member Rosalba Romero— both of whom work at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles—about the successful strike in March.
CTU election
Vote CORE: No steps backwards
by Joe AllenJoe Allen examines the context of the 2022 CTU elections, the impact of its leadership on Chicago politics, teacher unionism, and the trade union movement nationally, and argues for the importance of a vote for CORE.
Was holding the line enough for MFT?
Letter from a Minneapolis educator-activist
by Dan TroccoliIn March—less than two years after outbreak of massive protests following the police murder of George Floyd—Minneapolis teachers and educational support professionals went on strike. After two weeks out, they’d won some gains, including on racial justice demands. Educator-activist Dan Troccoli explains how they did it and how far there is to go.