Faculty Forward! at Duke University

Panel Introduction

Teacher and faculty unions occupy a unique place in the labor movement. In addition to typically being public sector employees, they often organize to secure better conditions for their students alongside more conventional demands of better pay and benefits. As a result, strong teacher unions are an important part of protecting both their members and students.

As well as ensuring fair work for fair pay, teacher unions have historically provided a number of social benefits as well. Securing a good education for students has been a core issue for teacher unions since their inception. The Chicago Teachers Federation (CTF) was established in 1897, and gave women like Margaret Haley a platform to advocate for better classroom conditions, which were important in achieving dignity for both students and teachers. This resulted in a better learning environment for both. Teaching at the turn of the century was one of the few professions open to educated women, and as a result, most teachers at the time were women. Because of this, unions like the CTF were tools of social mobility, giving women the chance to secure an independent living, a rarity for the era. Other public sector unions have been critical in advancing civil rights as well; sanitation workers organized alongside Dr. King in Memphis in 1968.

Teacher unions grew in prominence following World War II, as the labor movement in the United States reached its zenith. While private sector unions have declined, teacher unions remain a powerful advocacy force to this day, and are an important part of a well-functioning education system.