Students speak out about impact of Australian university job cuts
The Labor government’s cuts and pro-corporate and war economy restructuring are having a serious effect on students.
Our correspondents•
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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Bradford University strike: Campus staff resist job cuts and course closures under “Transformational Change” plan
Departments set for closure include Chemistry and Film & Television, with deep cuts also looming in Archaeology, Biomedical Sciences, Engineering, Pharmacy and Peace Studies.
Barry Mason•
“Everything is on the table”: Budget crisis deepens in Chicago as educators are laid off, denied back pay
As cuts are handed down, Chicago teachers are furious over denial of backpay owed from last year after their contract agreement was months-delayed.
Kristina Betinis•
Australia: NTEU volunteers job cuts at Western Sydney University
The university management announced a “voluntary redundancy” scheme just a day after the National Tertiary Education Union revealed that it had made a similar proposal.
A WSU Rank-and-File Committee member•
Sterling Oliver•
Phyllis Steele•
Nancy Hanover•
Our reporters•
Joe Raymond•
Union seeks to shut down Philadelphia-wide strike movement as rank-and-file resists
The agreement is aimed at blocking a growing rank-and-file rebellion and preventing the resurgence of a powerful citywide strike movement.
our reporters•
Online meeting Monday: Override AFSCME’s sellout of the Philadelphia strike! Build the Philadelphia Workers Rank-and-File Strike Committee!
This is a call to action for all workers who want to defend their rights. Don’t let the bureaucrats and city officials decide your future behind closed doors!
Philadelphia Workers Rank-and-File Strike Committee•
Vote “No” on the Canada Post contract! Mobilize all workers against concessions and state strikebreaking, and for good-paying, secure jobs!
Postal workers must make a massive "No" vote the starting point for relaunching their struggle as the spearhead of a working-class industrial and political counter-offensive.
Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (Canada)•
Organize to override the AFSCME sellout in Philadelphia! Restart and expand the strike under rank-and-file control!
This decision is in direct violation of the clear will of the rank and file and without any vote. The strike must be renewed immediately and expanded to include transit workers, white-collar employees and all other sections of the working class in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Workers Rank-and-File Strike Committee•
our reporter•
USPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee•
Roger Jordan•
Mack and Volvo Trucks Workers Rank-and-File Committees•
our reporter•
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.