Anarchists in the Labor Movement #5 – Public Schools
From Black Rose Anarchist Federation
This is the fifth installment in our Anarchists in the Labor Movement series. Click through the links to read installment #1 with an education worker, #2 with healthcare workers, #3 with a metal worker, and #4 with a public librarian.
In this interview we speak with Shan, a public school teacher in North Carolina.
As the title suggests, this series engages with anarchists who are active in workplace organizing. Some of those we speak to in this series are buildng a militant minority within the rank-and-file of their existing union, others are organizing the unorganized through new union campaigns, while others still are finding ways to build the capacity to win shop floor fights in contexts where union support is not available.
In part, our aim with these interviews is simply to shine a light on the presence of anarchist militants in the U.S. labor movement. More substantively, we ask participants to critically reflect on their experiences, including both successes and failures, to draw out generalizable lessons.
Some, but not all of those interviewed in this series are members of Black Rose / Rosa Negra (BRRN).
Answers have been edited for clarity and length.
Shan – Public School Teacher
BRRN: How would you summarize your politics in one sentence?
Shan: I believe in the power of everyday people to build a collective society that meets basic needs and allows individuals to live fulfilling lives.
BRRN: Share background about the campaign you are working on.
Shan: My teacher’s union in North Carolina is working on a campaign called “Commit to Majority” where organizers across the school district are recruiting new members to become a majority union. This effort was organized collectively by union membership to push for district and statewide policies to improve working conditions.
BRRN: Are you working with an established union or going independent?
Shan: Established union. Even though I would like to join a rank-and-file organizing committee, my school site does not have one. Joining my union has helped me meet with other members who are in favor of more militant tactics.
BRRN: How do you see your anarchist politics as relating to organizing for power with coworkers?
Shan: My orientation toward anarchist politics, and specifically organizing with coworkers, is building popular power through practice. Because people don’t just inherently know how to build collective power, we must practice it by organizing with each other to win material gains.
BRRN: Do you ever talk about your anarchist or anti-authoritarian politics with coworkers? Do you talk ‘politics’ (world events, local power structures) with your coworkers at all?
Shan: I don’t mention specifically “anarchist” politics because words like that and others – like “socialism” – tend to be misinterpreted and shut down conversations. However, I bring up concrete examples and ideas that relate to such politics. For example, I often talk about how management and district leaders get significant raises while we get next to nothing. I also talk about how we can function as a school without administration. Many people resonate with these ideas because they are relevant to our jobs, not abstract theories.
BRRN: Does your campaign include others who see themselves as ‘political’, but are part of a different political tradition or political organization?
Shan: Yes. Many people in our union are centrist or social democratic. They often focus on electoral strategies and support democratic candidates, which I disagree with. However, because we are organizing based on material gains, even with ideological differences, we are united in the demands we have for all workers.
BRRN: Does organizing in unions fit into your vision for transforming society or for social revolution?
Shan: Organizing unions is important because workplaces are one of the sites of struggle along with neighborhoods, prisons, and others. Labor has a significant power over society, as capitalism cannot survive without extracting value from labor. It is also a place where we can practice popular power and reshape how to relate to each other. I don’t know the exact steps to a better society, but I know that we must know how to build power among ourselves for it.
BRRN: What resources have helped you most as you’ve organized?
Shan: The most helpful resources have been people in the union and other organizers. Their on-the-ground experiences are the most valuable sources of inspiration, ideas and strategies. Of course, books always provide insight, knowledge, and theories that give me wider perspectives and better analyses.
BRRN: What advice can you share with anarchists looking to organize in a union context? What do you wish you had known when you started?
Shan: If there is a union, even if their politics may not align with yours, attend meetings and get to know people. The most important part of a union organization is people. If there isn’t a union at all, build relationships with people at work and identify those who question the working conditions and are interested in talking about changing those conditions. Regardless of the way you organize, building relationships is the most important part of starting a union.
If you enjoyed this article and want to read more, we recommend our labor organizing resources page.
