Themes In Schoolidarity

Schoolidarity: Public Sector Unionism in the Twentieth Century With few films depicting the struggle of the labour movement, and particularly in regards to the public sector, Schoolidarity can be considered a powerful and necessary piece of media. Schoolidarity chronicles the issues faced by public sector workers, in a documentary style, reflecting on two key social movements; the 2011 occupation of the states capitol in Wisconsin by public sector employees and the struggle of Chicago teachers and community to fight the unprecedented closing of schools. Collectively these events amounted to the 2012 teachers strike. Schoolidarity beings to tackle the issues faced by public sector workers while underlying several significant themes that allow
Within Schoolidarity, there are many instances in which teachers and the public identify right versus wrong. CORE stemmed out of concern for the children being taught in these under-funded, over-crowded and under-staffed public schools, often located in low-income communities. An example of this is seen in the occupation of the capitol by Madison Teachers Inc. (MTI), although this was considered a political strike and wasn’t allowed in their contract, this inspired other unions such as National Nurses United. I believe that the film’s intention, by pointing this out, was to highlight that there is a natural sense of right and wrong, and that this morality is often utilized to incite change that is necessary within that time. Although, it may not be a proper victory, one that has moral is a victory nonetheless. Within Chicago, Caucus of Rank-and-File Educators (CORE), formed in 2008, created a grassroots activist approach, had forums between parents. CORE had hundreds of active members. They stopped several closures without the help of the union just by organic organizing and activism. The union prior, UPS, lacked of an activist culture within the union and it wasn’t working with the community, they were only working with the teachers and if you had a problem you would file a grievance. At the occupation of the Capitol, other public sector worker, firefighters and police, were also there in solidarity. There were also non-public sector workers showing support regardless of how the national narrative presents public sector unions. This was an organic movement, people were coming in from other cities and towns, people occupied overnight. Chicago teachers union also demonstrated in Wisconsin demonstrating solidarity. The 14 democratic senators who were necessary for a quorum fled the state to Illinois. Public support in both movements was critical, as it provided the necessary