Lessons from the L.A. Teachers Strike

On February 22, 2019, the UCLA Labor Center hosted guest speakers UTLA President, Alex Caputo-Pearl, and UTLA Chief Negotiator, Arlene Inouye, for a conversation about the organizing lessons learned from the UTLA strike and how they translate into the future of public education and the labor movement.

Kent Wong, director of the UCLA Labor Center, facilitated the discussion focused on the key issues surrounding the strike, the rapid expansion of charter schools, the establishment of community schools, class sizes, and the need for more nurses on campuses. From an organizing standpoint, panelists discussed the communications framing of the strike and the immense internal organizing work that was critical to build momentum for the strike years before mobilization. 

Panelists also discussed the importance of reforming Proposition 13, growing the labor movement in a post-Janus world, and improving public education across the nation. The full conversation is available above for viewing. 

Related Links

School board passes resolution asking for a state moratorium on charter schools

Bargaining for the Common Good: An Analysis of the Los Angeles Teachers’ Strike

UTLA Reaches TA, Ends Historic Strike