Domestic Public PolicyAmerican GovernmentInterest Groups & Social Movements

West Virginia Teachers Strike

Posted on in Domestic Public Policy · American Government · Interest Groups & Social Movements

Teachers in West Virginia were on strike for more than a week to protest a pay raise they viewed as inadequate. The strike ended when a promised 5% pay increase was negotiated.


Instructors, click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt, a debate question, as well as other assessment questions.

Download the PowerPoint Lecture Spark for West Virginia Teachers Strike

Links

West Virginia struggles to end statewide teacher walkout
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/05/west-virginia-state-teacher-strike-385037

West Virginia ends teacher strike with 5 percent pay hike
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/06/west-virginia-school-strike-438737

Teachers in West Virginia went on strike — and won.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/09/us/teachers-union-movement/index.html

The West Virginia Teacher Strike Was Rare, Militant and Victorious
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/what-makes-the-west-virginia-teacher-strike-so-powerful_us_5a9db476e4b0a0ba4ad6f723

Supreme Court Case on unions presents opportunity to expand freedom to millions of public employees
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/02/24/supreme-court-case-on-unions-presents-incredible-opportunity-to-expand-freedom-to-millions-public-employees.html

Why Unions Are Harmful to Workers
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/03/17/unions-harmful-workers.html

This Supreme Court Case Is the Biggest Threat to Organized Labor in Years
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/janus-unions-supreme-court-case_us_5a873b4de4b00bc49f43decd

Supreme Court decision on Janus v. AFSCME likely to permanently weaken public unions
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/supreme-court-decision-janus-v-afscme-likely-permanently-weaken-public-ncna851376

Swamp Watch: Public sector unions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMPfezUS8KU

Labor Secretary Reflects on the Future of Unions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq_EB5MxhFo

 

Assessment

  • Writing: What is the underlying issue in Janus v. AFSCME?
  • Debate: Public sector unions should be able to collect dues from employees who don’t belong to the union because all employees benefit when the union bargains collectively.
  • Poll:  Unions should not be able to engage in political activities without the express consent of all union members.
  • Short Answer: What is the free-rider problem as it relates to union activities?

Current events quiz:

1) West Virginia teachers went on strike to protest a less than 5% pay raise. (T/F)

2) Private sector unionization has largely been more successful than public sector unionization. (T/F)

3) The Supreme Court decided not to hear the case Janus v. AFSCME. (T/F)

4) Which party tends to have greater political support from unions?

a. Republican

b. Democratic

c. Libertarian

d. Green

e. None of the above

5) The death of ___________ resulted in a 4-4 tie in the Supreme Court on the question of whether union fees violated free expression.

a. David Souter

b. Earl Warren

c. Antonin Scalia

d. Sandra Day O’Connor

Answers:

1) True

2) False

3) False

4) B

5) C

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