by Rich Evans
Line up and knock them down. The neo-liberal playbook of defunding public services entities, declaring them failures, then privatizing them can be best witnessed in public education. For the last seventy years, coinciding with the white backlash of desegregation, the fever dream of destroying the world renowned American public education system has played out. Democrats and Republicans have all taken part, Republicans more overtly, Democrats the more covertly. Together they have undermined, discredited, and destroyed the system that will allow our nation to thrive. While public education is due massive reforms, its privatization will do much greater harm.
That harm is nearing its apex. While we might be a few generations removed from complete desolation, the wheels are turning, and the first obstacles are being removed. Before public education can be destroyed, teachers’ unions, educators committed to each other and their students, must be removed. Taking away the voice of those with the most direct contact with our students, the most knowledge of what is needed, allows the vultures easier access to our taxpayer.
Just last month, Colorado Springs School District 11, the 12th largest state school district, refused to create a contract with the teachers’ union, Colorado Springs Education Association. Their current contract will run out this year and after that their rights will meet the same end. These losses are in part thanks to the addition of lawyer Suzzane Taheri of West Group – for the small fee of $100,000 – and a communications budget of $18,000 – all paid with Colorado Springs tax-payers’ dollars (plus yours as a state taxpayer) Colorado Springs Education Association is on its backfoot. While they have some room to maneuver, walkouts, strikes, etc. for all intents and purposes there is no District 11 teacher union post spring 2025.
While CSEA is the first major union to fall in recent history, other districts are testing the waters. The Woodland Park School District recently settled with the teachers’ union after they had violated teachers First Amendment rights. It is illegal to require approval of bosses before being allowed to discuss working conditions with the press or on social media. Without the union, it would have been harder to pursue holding the district accountable for breaking labor law. While this was a win, the union, and teachers are still under threat.
These school districts, and District 51 share some common threads. In 2021, after the defeat of Donald Trump, Republicans were in the tailspin. The party eventually turned back to its proven formula, racism. In the owning class backlash against the George Floyd uprising, conservatives found their footing. They turned a little-known legal study, Critical Race Theory, into the issue of the time. Branding CRT as a Marxist plot to demonize white children and radicalize students into becoming anti-American, the bourgeoisie used this panic to claim victory. Astroturf groups like Mom’s for Liberty pushed anti trans bigotry while proclaiming themselves protectors of children… It was a national craze and groups like Americans for Prosperity and Turning Points USA took full advantage. Public schools were now in the hands of those who wanted to sell them off.
With this newfound public support, the reactionary boards went to work. In both D11 and Woodland Park the new majorities replaced the superintendent and the legal team. D51 was an exception to this. Because of community organizing and rank and file union members, residents shuttered the conservative momentum. Mesa county residents stopped the removal of former superintendent Diana Sirko, and former assistant and now current superintendent Brian Hill. Additionally, we stopped the hiring of the Miller Law firm, the firm hired by Woodland Park School District to dismantle their union. These maneuvers have at least given District 51 teacher union, Mesa Valley Education Association (MVEA), some time.
The concern is what the union leadership is doing with that time. Last year, the school board negotiated the end of salary sharing the MVEA union presidents salary. A forty-year precedent. It is no surprise how manhandled the union was with its lack of demands and minimal strategy. You can learn more from my previous piece in issue #6 of The Revolutionist.
The silver lining of last year’s loss was the turnout of membership. The union hasn’t seen rank and file attending negotiations for years. The union would be wise to build on the energy of its people. They cannot fail again. We cannot fail again.
It is time we, as a community, step up again. We have stopped this madness before. Our district was on the brink of complete overhaul and we stopped them. While I hope the union elects new leaders it is unlikely for that to happen in the near term. So we must lead again.
You might tell yourself “this is not my fight, as I am not a teacher.” Unless you are in the owning class, this is your fight. It is proven that unions improve workplace conditions for everyone, even workers without unions. Workers want better wages and living conditions. Unions, through collective action, win those demands. Workers leave employers that do not meet those demands for shops that do. Thus, capitalists recognizing that they need to retain their labor offer those incentives.
Mesa Valley Education Association will be negotiating its contract for the 2025-26 school year. This will be the final guaranteed contract year. If you believe in supporting labor rights and workers having a voice in their workplace, it is time to prove it. Negotiations will begin in the spring. They are open to the public. Below is a list of actions you can take to support the union. Remember, this not only is in your interest as a member of the working class, it is also in defense of the promise of taxpayer funded, inclusive and quality education now and for future generations.
1. Attend the negotiations.
2. Bring food and coffee for other attendees.
3. Write letter to editor or guest columns to local news outlets supporting the union.
4. Speak to your neighbors about the importance of having good public school educators.
5. Follow Mesa Valley Education Association on Facebook to keep up to date – share their posts.
6. Form your own union at your workplace.
Solidarity forever,
The Revolutionist 