Educators for May 1, 2028
Educators for May 1, 2028
We are a growing coalition of rank-and-file educators across all states and territories who are building and flexing our collective power in defense of public education. That includes demanding appropriate working conditions and benefits, as well as the resources and care--within and beyond the classroom--that students need to thrive.
We have 57 chapters (one per state and territory!), under the national umbrella. We recognize that public education is left to the state and local governments, and so we focus on intra-state organizing efforts; however, we work in conjunction with the other chapters with dreams to share strategies, prepare for national union assemblies, and coordinate actions.
Our goals include increased funding, legislation to guarantee collective bargaining rights and the right to strike, challenging privatization and vouchers, living wages, and common good demands around housing, healthcare, student debt relief, green schools, and more. Those struggles are ongoing and not limited to May Day 2028, but our work is grounded in preparing for a mass mobilization.
Build out an organizing committee in every state and territory
Prepare a resolution for each state's annual meeting around communication support for our work (including outgoing communication and contact information for local unions' executive leadership)
A draft list of demands by state/territory for May Day 2028, as a starting point for broader member and local engagement for 2026-2027
Connect with other organizations and union sectors
As a rank-and-file educator, you ARE the movement! Here are five ways to help grow the movement:
Tell at least 5 union siblings about us
Organize a local May Day 2026 event (suggestions/resources here) or join any of these planned events
Go to your local union's annual meeting and spread the word (you can order Educators for May 1, 2028 literature here to distribute among NEA and AFT union siblings)
Make a plan with a friend to attend your state union's annual meeting in Spring 2026 to vote in favor of any May Day resolutions or new business items
Follow our Instagram: @educatorsfor5128. Your state's chapter includes the postal abbreviation, such as @ALeducatorsfor5128, @AKeducatorsfor5128, @AZeducatorsfor5128, etc.
The United Automobile Workers, under the leadership of Shawn Fain, issued a call for a general strike on May 1, 2028, saying, "it’s our opportunity to create a crisis for the billionaire class to win more for all of us." We couldn't agree more.
We seek to answer the UAW's call, knowing that other unions and community groups are also organizing for the same day of action and we are stronger together. While we're called "Educators for May 1, 2028," we are not ignoring the many fights between now and then.
For more about May Day 2028 and other organizing groups, see the links below:
AFT Resolution: Supporting The UAW's Call to Align Contract Expirations for May 1 (from 2024)
The Nation, "The Call is Out for Mass, Simultaneous Strikes in 4 Years" (from October 2024)
Jacobin, "Unions Should Start Planning for a Mass Strike on May Day 2028" (from November 2023)