Milwaukee public education under attack, with 13 schools targeted for closure
Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) is considering closing 13 schools.
Bill Shaw•
Educators Rank-and-File Committee
The Educators Rank-and-File Committee is an international network of educators, students, parents, and workers fighting for workers power in the schools, to stop the capitalist destruction of public education and eliminate COVID-19.
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Western Sydney University “Green Paper” sets out pro-war and pro-business restructuring
WSU is becoming a prototype for the Labor government's Universities Accord, channelling students and research into war-related industries.
Western Sydney University Rank-and-File Committee•
UK budget: a pittance for crumbling, asbestos riddled schools
The Starmer Labour government’s first budget does nothing to reverse the cuts to education since 2010 or to make schools safe.
Margot Miller•
Australia: New South Wales teachers’ union rams through sell-out wages and conditions deal
An illegitimate and antidemocratic process was organised to suppress any discussion and scrutiny of the terms of the union-government agreement.
Erika Zimmer•
Renae Cassimeda, Norisa Diaz•
Harvey Thompson•
Kristina Betinis, George Marlowe, Joe Raymond•
Jack Turner•
Nick Barrickman•
Reject the third sellout TA at Boeing! The rank and file must seize control of the strike from the IAM bureaucrats for victory!
It has become absolutely clear that if we are to win this strike, we have to overthrow the dead weight of the IAM union bureaucracy.
Boeing Workers Rank-and-File Committee•
Stop CUPW’s delaying tactics! Launch a working-class political struggle against Canada Post and the Trudeau government!
The fact that Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon participated in the talks Thursday underscores that Trudeau’s Liberals have already begun their preparations to enact strikebreaking legislation, just like they did in 2018. But the CUPW leadership says nothing about this threat, and has struck a deal with management to postpone our strike.
Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (Canada)•
Australian university educators send message of support to striking US Boeing workers
Workers and students at Western Sydney University in Australia have sent solidarity greetings to the striking Boeing workers in the United States.
Western Sydney University Rank-and-File Committee•
After plant closures announced at VW: For a global rank-and-file campaign against job cuts in the auto industry!
Rank-and-file committees among autoworkers in both North America and Europe must be expanded to include every key factory, giving workers the power to shut down the global industry.
International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees•
Daniel Berkley•
Bryan Dyne•
Will Lehman•
Boeing Workers Rank-and-File Committee•
Chicago Educators Rank-and-File Committee•
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the term “rank-and-file” mean and where does it come from?
“Rank-and-file” is originally a military term. It refers to the lower “ranks” of soldiers, who literally stand in lines or “files”. These soldiers have a different set of interests in preserving their lives than the officers or “brass” who prosecute the wars on behalf of the ruling elite.
Rank-and-file committees are of, by and for the rank-and-file workers, who have a different set of interests in preserving their lives than management, the bosses, the politicians, and the trade union apparatus, who send workers to die while defending the profits of the ruling elite.
Is it legal to build rank-and-file committees of educators and other workers to stop the spread of COVID-19?
Yes. The formation of rank-and-file committees is 100% completely legal under the First Amendment to the US Constitution.
The right to freedom of speech means you can say whatever you like about what you agree or disagree with. Freedom of association, also covered under the first amendment, means you have the right to associate with others who share your views, for political ends. You also have the right to petition the government for redress, to make demands on the government and tell them what you want them to do.
Does HIPAA law prevent schools or workplaces from disclosing information about the spread of COVID-19?
No. HIPAA has an exception for disclosures to prevent and control the spread of disease, but the state is deliberately not invoking this exception in order to conceal information from workers, so that they can pretend that what they are doing is safe when it’s not.
Rank-and-file educators have the right to know who’s gotten sick, where, when, and what happened. Rank-and-file committees have to demand this information, and have to share it with other workers as a matter of collective self defense.