Amanualforbuildingworkerpowerin theeducationindustry
ByandforAngryEducationWorkers
AdaptedfromKarlMarx’spamphlet“AWorkers’Inquiry”,firstpublished inLaRevuesocialiste,April20,1880;TranscribedbyCurtisPrice,1997.
Fulltextavailableat:
https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1880/04/20.htm
WeareapoliticalartcollectiveofradicaleducationworkersbasedintheDC, MD,VA(DMV)regionoftheUnitedStatesOurgoalistobecomeanode inthewiderclassstrugglethatcreatesoverlapwithotherlike-minded organizations,communities,andindividualswhileremainingrootedinour workplaces.Toaccomplishthis,weaimtoopenupasmuchdialogue betweeneducationworkersofallkindsaspossible.Bigbusinessesandthe statecantakeadvantageofmainstreammethodsofmasscommunication likeadvertisements,thenewsmedia,andsocialmediaalgorithmstoshape narrativestotheirownends.Butwehaveourown.Internationalismand anti-imperialismthusformbedrockprinciplesofourcollective.Zines,an onlinenewsletter,podcasts,andagitpropsuchasstickersandfliersarethe meanstoourends.Youcanfindallofthisonourwebsite,whichislinkedat theendofthiszine.
Everyeducationworkerplaysavitalroleinourcommunities.Yet,the educationsystemdividesus,preventingusfromorganizingtogetherover oursharedmaterialinterests.Mainstreamunionleadershipsoftenuphold thesedivisions,separatingworkersatthesameinstitutionintodifferent bargainingunitsthatcompeteformeaslybenefitsandfailtosupporteach otherduringlaboractions.
Thisleavesthesemainstreamunionsoftenparalyzedinthefaceofneoliberal capitalwhichisinternationalinscalethateasilyskirtsaroundthese arbitrarydivisions.Wewanttochartadifferentpath.
Ifyou’reinterestedinjoiningthecollective,contactususingtheinformation attheendofthisarticle.Wewelcomealllevelsofengagementand involvement.Ifyouwanttosendusascribblingaboutyourworkplace,a randomstickerdesign,orotheragitpropandneversubmitanotherpiece, that’sfine.Burnoutcultureisbullshit.Allourzinesandmaterialsare markedascollectivelyauthored.Evenifjustoneortwopeopleworkona particularpiece.Thisrecognizesthefactthatindividual“authorship”is artificialinthefirstplace.Italsoprotectsourjobsandprivacy.
We’reespeciallyinterestedin:
1.Investigationsofeducationbusinesses,foundations,and“non-profits”.
2.Workernarrativesfromcurrentorformerworkplaces.
3.Descriptionsofeducationalinstitutions,includingthecompositionofthe workforceandthehistoryofclassstruggleatthesite.
4.Analysisofyourlocalpoliticalandlegallandscapeoftheindustry.
5.Workplacejournalentries.
6.Thoughtsonrevolutionarystrategyforeducationworkers.
Anyidentifyinginformationwillberemoved.
PrioritygoestoDMVeducationworkers,butweacceptsubmissionsfrom workerseverywhere.Wewanttobuildcontactsbetweeneducationworkers acrosstheindustryandaroundtheworld.Wealsoencourageyoutostart yourownlocalnewslettersbyandforeducationworkers.Feelfreetouse ourprojectasa“template”,sotospeak.
Buildingpowerwithyourcoworkersisnowalkinthepark.It’smorelike beinginasecret,undergroundorganization.Whetheryourgoalistobuilda formalworkplaceunionornot,thebossesdon’trespondkindlytoany collectiveresistancebyworkers.Beforeyoucanthinkofgoingonthe offensiveagainstyourshittyboss,you(andyourcoworkers)needto understandhowtheyexploityou.Thatmeansaskingandanswering substantivequestionsaboutyourworkplacewerecommendkeepinga notebookwhereyoucankeeptrackofallthis.Don’tletitfallintothewrong hands.
Oneofthemostimportantsetsofinformationtoobtainsoundsmuch simplerthanitactuallyis:findingoutwhoworkswithyou.Capitalism bringstogetherhugenumbersofpeoplefromallbackgroundstowork togethertogenerateprofitsforthebossesandpoliticians.Fifteenmillion peopleworkintheeducationindustry,forexample.Onlyhealthcaremakes upalargershareoftheGrossDomesticProduct(GDP).
Butthatdoesn’tmeanyourbosseswantyoutocooperateoutsidetheirdirect supervision.Mostofthetime,yourbossescan’tactuallymaintainthislevel ofactivesurveillance.They’retoofondoftheiroffices.That’swhythey’re socarefultokeeptightcontroloverinformationabouttheworkplacewithin thoseoffices.We’reseparatedanddividedbydepartment,jobrole, educationlevel,shift,jobsite,andstatus.Andwecan’tcheckourracial,
religious,gender,political,orculturaldifferencesatthedoor,either.Our bossesrelyonthat.
Thecorporateandsmallbusinessownerstremblebeforethedangerswhich animpartialandsystematicinvestigationbyandforeducationworkers mightrepresent.Knowledgegeneratedbyandforourselvesgivesustangible waystoformulateconcretenextstepsforbuildingsolidaritybetweenyou andyourcoworkersofallbackgrounds.Thisishowwecanchangethe balanceofpowerinourworkplacesLetussubjectourworkplacesandlocal economiestoaruthlesscriticism.Thatmeansunderstandingthenegative impactsofourinstitutionsalongsidethepositivecontributionstheymake. First,wemustbuildrelationshipswithourcoworkersandstudyourjobs throughascientificlens.
Wemustattempttoinitiateaninquiryofthiskindwiththosepoorresources whichareatourdisposal.Wehopetomeetinthisworkwiththesupportof allfellowworkers:urbanandrural;manualandintellectual.Itisusalone whocandescribewithfullknowledgethemisfortuneswesuffer.Onlywe notexpertslikeeducationresearchers,academics,andjournalists,or bureaucratsfromgovernmentagenciescanbegintohealthesocialills whichweandourcommunitiesarepreyto.Wealsorelyuponideological socialistsofallschoolswho,beingwishfulforsocialrevolution,mustwish foranexactandpositiveknowledgeoftheconditionsinwhichtheworking classtheclasstowhomthefuturebelongsworksandmoves.Margaret Haleyeloquentlysummarizedwhyinher1904speechtotheNational EducationAssociationconventiontitled“WhyTeachersShouldOrganize”:
TwoidealsarestrugglingforsupremacyinAmericanlifetoday:oneisthe industrialidealdominatingthroughthesupremacyofcommercialism,which subordinatestheworkertotheproductandthemachine;theother,theideal ofdemocracy,theidealoftheeducators,whichplaceshumanityaboveall machines,anddemandsthatallactivityshallbetheexpressionoflife.Ifthis idealoftheeducatorscannotbecarriedoverintotheindustrialfieldthen theidealofindustrialismwillbecarriedoverintotheschoolThosetwo idealscannomorecontinuetoexistinAmericanlifethanournationcould havecontinuedhalfslaveandhalffree.Iftheschoolcannotbringjoytothe workoftheworld,thejoymustgooutofitsownlife,andworkintheschool, asintheindustrialfield,willbecomedrudgery..
Itwillbewellindeediftheteachershavethecourageoftheirconvictions andfaceallthatthelaborunionshavefacedwiththesamecourageand perseverance.
Ourself-knowledgeandunderstandingbuildssolidarityanddemystifiesthe waysourenemies,thebosses,exploitourlaborandstealourtime.Bydoing so,wetaketheformsoforganizationimposedonusbyourbossesandstart tobuildourownstructuresintheworkplace.Wealsoencourageyouto sharetheinformationyouandyourcoworkersdiscoverwithanorganizer. Onlybycommunicatingacrossjobsites,companies,anddistrictscanwe cometoatrueaccountingofthecommonstruggles,demands,anddreams weshareasaclassofworkersintheeducationindustry.
TheLeagueofBlackRevolutionaryWorkersin1960sand1970sDetroit demonstratedhowthiscanbuildworkerpower.Atthetime,Blackworkers inthecitywerebuildingRevolutionaryUnionMovements(RUMs)in individualfactories.Almostallofthempublishedoneormorenewspapers. Workersdiscoveredtheyonlyknewwhatwasgoingonintheirown, individualfactories.Newspapersbyandforautoworkersbrokedownthose barriers.TheAngryWorkerspoliticalcollectiveintheUKandtheVirginia WorkerintheUShavefurthertestedthisideaoftheworkerrunnewspaper. In2006,teacherunionistsandcommunitymembersexpropriatednotjustthe schools,butmostoftheradioandtelevisionstationsintheMexicanstateof Oaxaca.Furtherback,inthe1800sandearly1900s,localnewspapers writtenandpublishedbyworkingclasspeoplefilledurbanneighborhoods. Beingabletoresearchwithourowntoolsandspeakwithourownvoicesis arevolutionaryact.
Thismanualismeanttohelpyouwithyourownself-inquiry.We recommendthatyoustarttalkingtoyourcoworkersaboutissuesatworkand usethesequestionsTherearefurthertrainingsofferedbytheIWWabout howtoapproachandexecutetheseconversations.Theyhappenoften,but notconstantly.Inthemeantime,trytokeepconversationswithcoworkers oneonone.Staffloungesandclassroomsoftenwork,butideallyhavethem outsidework,evenifit’svirtualoroverthephone.Onceyouhaveagroup ofcoworkersmeetingregularlytodiscusssolvingproblemswithcollective action,youcanposetherelevantquestionstothecommittee.Thatway,you cancollaboratetoanswerquestionsyoumaynothavethoughtofbyyourself. Oraddfullerdataanddiscovernewwaysofthinkingabouttheissues.
Onlyanswerthequestionsrelevanttoyou.Youdon’thavetoanswerallthe questions.Oranswerthematthesametime.Skipandreturntothemasbest foryou.Answerinasmuchoraslittledetailasyoulike.Ifyouwriteeight pagesinresponsetoonequestion,sobeit.Inrepliessharedwithusthe numberofthecorrespondingquestionshouldbegiven.Withmanyofthese questions,youwillhavetoperformresearchandinvestigateinyourphysical workplace.
ThequestionsaredividedintovariouscategoriesSomeoftheseareforthe differenttypesofworkersintheindustry.Manyofthemwilloverlap, however.Forexample,thequestionaboutgrantsandfundingposedabout schoolscouldeasilybeappliedtolibrariesandmuseums.
Ifyouwishtoshareasummaryoftheresults(sofar)ofyourownworker inquiry,thereisspaceprovidedinthefinalpagesofthiszinetodoso.Please seethefinalpageforhowtogetintoucheitheronlineorthroughthemail. Wealsowelcomeexcerptsfromworkplacejournals,workerpersonal narratives,andexamplesofcontactgatheringandsocialchartingmethods. Don’tworryifyoufeelyourinquiryisincompleteorlackspolish,we appreciateanyeffortyoucanmaketohelpworkersacrosstheeducation industryunderstandtheirpredicamentsandhowtorespondtothem.
Repliesthatyousharewithuswillremainanonymousandundisclosed unlessyougiveusexplicitpermissionotherwise.
1.Whatisyourjobrole?
2.Wheredoyouwork?Whatcity?Whatneighborhood?
3.Doyouworkinaschool,museum,library,orarchive?
4.Areyouclassifiedassupportstaff?(custodians,securityguards, maintenance,groundskeeping,dedicatedaide,behavior intervention,etc.)
5.Whatistheage,gender,racial,religious,etccompositionofthe workforce?Gatherafulllistofyourcoworkersandtheirnon-work contactinformation.Aspreadsheetisagreatwaytokeeptrackof thisinformation.
6.Istheresufficientworkforyourexistenceorareyouforcedto combineitwithasecondorthirdjob?Ifyouhaveanotherjob,what isit?Whendoyouworkit?
7.Doyouworkwithyourhands,head,orwiththehelpofmachinery? Allthree?
8.Howmanyemployeesarethere?
9.Statethenumberofadministratorsandotheremployeeswhoare notrank-and-filehiredworkers.
10.Whichrank-and-fileemployeeshavecloserelationshipswith management/administration?
11.Areyouaworkerinthebuildingfromstaffingagenciesoronother formsofcontract/temporaryemployment?Hasyournumbergrown inyourinstitutionsincethestartofthepandemic?
12.Howmuchtimedoyouloseinyourcommute?Howdoyougetto work?Canyouaffordtoliveinthecommunityyouserve?Ifyes, doyoustruggletoaffordit?
13.Whatarethegeneralphysical,intellectualandmoralconditionsof lifeoftheworkingpeopleemployedinyourtradeorindustry?
14.Ifyouworkathome,describetheconditionsofyourwork room.Doyouuseworkingtoolsorcomputers?Doyouhave recoursetothehelpofyourchildrenorotherpersons?Doyouwork forprivateclients,orforanemployer?Doyoudealwiththem directorthroughanagent?
15.IsInformationTechnology(IT)staffemployedon-site,orarethey contractedout?Isthereamanagementcompanythatemploysthem directlyinstead?
16.Comparethepriceofthecommoditiesyoumanufactureorthe servicesyourenderwithyourpay.Forexample,inWashington D.C.,eachgeneraleducationstudentcomeswith$24,000inpublic funds.Specialeducationstudents$31,000.Inthe2023-2024school yearthesefigureswilleachincreaseby5percent.Mostschoolstaff, especiallyinstructionalstaff,laborondozensofstudentsatatime everyday.Withjust50students,aclassroomteacherintheDistrict ishelpingproduce$1.2millioninhumancapital.Divideby180 theusualminimalnumberofinstructionaldaysandyoudiscover thattheaverageteacherproducesmorethan$6,000ofhuman capitaleveryday.Theirstartingannualpayrarelyexceeds$60,000 (adailywageofmaybe$300),andevenhighlyexperienced teachersmaxoutat$90,000inacitywithoneofthehighestcosts oflivinginthecountry.Mostteachersaroundthecountrymake
significantlylesssinceDChasthe4thhighestteacherpayinthe entireUnitedStates.Manyotherschoolstaffmembersmakeeven less.
17.Ifyouaresupportstaffataschool,library,ormuseum,how wouldyoudescribetherelationshipbetweensupportand instructionalstaff?
18.Doesadministrationtreatyoudifferentlyfrominstructionalstaff?
19.Ifworktakesplacebothnightandday,whatistheorderofthe shifts?Isthereanycommunicationbetweenthem?
20.Istheremandatoryorvoluntaryovertimeoffered?Doovertime hoursfluctuatebasedonseason?
21.Areanysupportstaffcontractedoutorhireddirectlybythe institutionyouworkfor?
22.Ifyouareacrossingguard,whatpersonaldangersdoyouface fromtraffic?Doyounormallyworkinanotherrole?
23.Howisstudenttransportationandbusinghandled?Whereare busesparked?Wherearetheytakenformaintenanceandgas?
24.Doyoureceivethesamevisibilityandrecognitionthat instructionalstaffreceivefromtheinstitution?
25.Whatistheturnoverrateforsupportstaffcomparedto instructionalstaff?
26.Arethereonsitemaintenancestafforareyouhiredfromoutside?
27.Ifyouworkinaschool:Isyoureducationalworkplacepartofa traditionalpublicschooldistrict?Ordoyouworkinacharter, private,oralternativeschoolsituation?
28.Ifyouworkinacharterschool:Isyourschoolmanagedbya majorCharterManagementOrganization(CMO)likeKIPP?A localcharterschoolnetwork?Isthereasite-specificschoolboard?
29.Whoisontheschoolboard?Whataretheirconnectionsto corporations,governmentbodies,orpotentiallyunaccountable foundations?
30.Whatagerange/gradelevelsdoyouworkwith?
31.Whoisonthedistrict/stateboardsofeducation?Istherea separateschoolboardoverseeingcharterschools?Whoisonit?
32.Whoaretheinstitution’sdonors?Doestheschoolrelyongrants tokeepcertainprogramsrunning?
33.Aretheirvolunteers,interns,studentteachers?Howmany?Does TeachforAmericahaveanypeopleplacedinthebuilding?
34.Doesyourschoolhelpwithpurchasingsupplies?Doyouever havetospendyourownmoneyonclassroomsupplies?Ifyes, howmuch?
35.HowmanySPEDworkersareinyourschool?Isthisamount enoughtoeffectivelyandcaringlymanagetheircaseloads?
36.Howoftendoyou,asamandatedreporterunderthelaw,file reportsincaseswhereyoususpectchildabuseorneglect?Have youeverrefrainedfromfilingbecausetherearesomanycases whereyoususpectabuseorneglect?Haveyoueverrefrained becauseyoufeltChildProtectiveServicesresponsewouldinflict furtherharmonthechild?
37.Ifyouareasubstitute,classroomteacher,oranothertypeof schoolworkerforcedtocoverextraclasses,areyousupposedto bepaidforthatwork?Isthereaclearwayofdocumentingthe labortimeyouputin?Dopaymentsactuallycomethrough?
38.Howdoesyourpaycomparewithothersubstituteteachersand teacherswhoarenotsubstitutes?
39.Howmanyclassroomteachersandotherinstructionalstaffare certified?
40.Whatcurriculumdoesyourschooluse?
41.Wheredoesthecurriculumcomefrom?
42.Ifyouworkinaschoolasateacher,doyouhavecontrolover whatyouteach?Isthereascriptedcurriculumyoumustfollow? Autonomywithoutcurricularsupportfromtheschool?Arethere differencesbysubject?
43.Ifthereisascriptedcurriculum,doteachersfollowit?
44.Howarethestudentsfed?Whatcompaniesdoestheschool institutionhire/contractwithfordeliveries?Whatscheduledo theyfollow?
45.Whatarethepoliciesonprintingandcopying?Howmanycopy machinesarethereintheschool?Howmanycopies,colorand greyscale,areallowedperemployee?Whatcompanydeliversthe paper?
46.Forfrontofficestaff:whatinformalexpectationsexistforyouto maintainthestaffculturewithintheschool?
47.Doesyourschoolhaveamediacenterorlibrary?Isthereaschool librarianemployedthere?
48.Doesyourschoolhaveanycounselorson-site?
QuestionsforandaboutPost-SecondaryWorkers
49.Doyouworkforapublicorprivateuniversityorcollege?A communitycollegesystem?
50.Doyouworkforavocationalschoolorprogram?
51.Areyoutenured?Whataretheconditionsofyourtenure?
52.Areyoudependentonthepost-secondaryinstitutionthatemploysyou forhousing?
53.Areyoupaidthroughvariousstipendsandgrants?
54.Ifyouareinstructionalstaff,whatistheratioofresearchingversus teachingyouareexpectedtocarryoutthroughyourworkload?
QuestionsforPreschoolandDaycareWorkers
55.Ifyouworkinadaycare/preschool,whatareyourlocallawson childcare?
56.Doyouworkunderacertifiedorun-certifieddaycare/preschool location?
57.Isyourworkplacefranchised?
58.Ifyouworkinadaycare/preschoollocationthatalsoteachesolder students,howareyoutreatedincomparisonwithcolleagueswho workwitholderstudents?
QuestionsforandaboutLibraryWorkers
59.Ifyouworkinalibrary:Isitasinglebranchwithinalibrary systeminamajorurbancenter?Acountylibrarysystem?
60.Isitanacademic,special,orpubliclibrary?
61.Doyoureceivemeaningfulautonomyinyourwork?Doyouhave opportunitiestohelpdeveloplibraryprogramming?
62.Whatprogrammingdoesyourlibrarybranchoffer?
63.Doyoureceiveautonomyindesigningprogrammingwithout meaningfuldecisionmakingpowerorresourcesfor implementation?
64.Ifyouworkinaschoollibrary,havetherebeenattemptstocut yourprogramsorposition?
65.Howdoesadministrationevaluateperformance?Doanymeasures seemarbitrary?
QuestionsforandaboutMuseumWorkers
66.Howisthemuseumfunded?Doesitreceiveanypublicfunds?
67.Doesyourmuseumchargeforadmission?Howmuch?
68.Whattypeofmuseumdoyouworkin?
69.Whatareadoesyourmuseumserve?Isitanationalmuseum institutionliketheSmithsonian?Isitalocalmuseumforatown, city,orcounty?
70.Whatexhibitsandprogramsdoesyourlocationoffertothepublic?
QuestionsforandabouttheStudentsandCommunity Members
71.Isthereracist,sexist,homophobic,orotherbigotedmistreatment ofyouandyourfellowstudents?
72.Doyoufeelthatyouaretreatedas“rawmaterial”?Orthatyour schoolstructureresemblesafactoryassemblyline?
73.Wherearethesympathiesofthelocalcommunity?What resourcesandsupportcouldtheyprovide?
74.Whatsympatheticorpotentiallysympatheticcommunity/civic organizationsexistaroundtheinstitution?
75.Whichstaffmembersaresympatheticoraccomplicestoyourown causesandstruggles?
76.Howcouldtheseresourcesandpeoplebemobilized?
QuestionsabouttheLayoutandStructureofthe Workplace
77.Howisthelabordividedinyourworkplace?Whatdepartments exist?Doyouhaveaccesstoanorganizationalchart?
78.Wheredoestheelectricalpowercomefrom?
79.Whenandhowaresuppliesdelivered?Whatcompaniesdoesthe institutioncontractwith?
80.Howisstudentdrop-offandpickupmanaged?Isitconducted safely?
81.Statethenumberofroomsinwhichthevariousbranchesof productionarecarriedon.Drawamapoftheworkplace.
82.Describethespecialtyinwhichyouareengaged.Describenot onlythetechnicalside,butthemuscularandnervousstrain required,anditsgeneraleffectonthephysicalandmentalhealth ofyouandyourcoworkers.
83.Describethehygienicconditionsintheworkspace;thesizeofthe rooms,spaceallottedtoeveryworkerandstudent,ventilation, temperature,plastering,lavatories,generalcleanliness,noiseof machinery,pollution,dampness,andsoon.
84.Isthereanymunicipalorgovernmentsupervisionofhygienic conditionsintheworkplace?
85.Arethereparticularhazardswhichareharmfulforthehealthand producespecificdiseasesamongtheworkers?
86.Mentiontheaccidentsandincidentswhichhavetakenplaceto yourpersonalknowledge.
87.Aretheresufficientsafetyappliancesagainstfire?
88.Haveyoueverreceivedhazardpay?
89.Isthereanurseorothermedicalprofessionalemployedinyour school,library,ormuseum?Ifyouaresuchamedical professional,doyouhaveadequatePPEprovided?Whatarethe conditionsofyourwork?
90.Ifyouworkinaschool,whatarestudentenrollmentlevels?
91.Whatbehaviorissuesarecommonamongthestudents?
92.Doyoufeelthattheadministrationeverletsstudentsoffthehook whentheyshouldn’t?Doesyouradministrationpunishstudents tooharshly?
93.Howmuchpublicandprivatefundingfollowseachstudentinto thebuilding?SeequestionsixteenforDCfigures.
94.Ifyouworkinaprivateschool,howisadmissionshandled?
Financialaid?Arethereinequalitiesinhowtheyaremanaged?
95.Ifyouworkinacharterschool,doesyourschoolusealottery systemforadmissions?
96.Ifyouworkinalibraryormuseum,howmanypatronscanyou expectdaily?Whataretheylike?
97.Aretherepoliceofficersstationedinoraroundyourschool, library,museum,orarchive?Howdopatrons,students,and communitymembersfeelabouttheirpresence?Workers?
98.Doestheadministrationforceyoutoimplementpoliciesyou disagreewith?
99.Doesyouradministrationpushorabandonyouintodangerous situationswithpatronsorstudents?
100.Howmanyhoursadaydoyouwork?Howmanydaysaweek?
101.Areyoupaidhourlyordoyoureceiveasalary?
102.Doyouevertakeworkhomewithyou,comeearly,orstaylate? Areyoupaidforthesehours?
103.Doyouworkonweekends?Either“voluntarily”orthrough compulsion?
104.Howmanyholidaybreaksdoyougeteachyear?Hasthe administrationtriedtotakeanyawayorwhittlethemdown?
105.Whatbreaksarethereduringtheworkingday?
106.Doyoutakemealsatdefiniteintervals,orirregularly?Doyoueat intheworkshoporoutside?
107.Doyouoryourcoworkersworkthroughmealtimes?
108.Doestheinstitutionprovideadequateinfrastructurefor refrigeratingandheatingmealsthatworkersbringfromhome?Is wateravailabletostaffandstudents?Ifso,whatdostaffand studentsknowaboutthewaterquality?
109.Ifyouworkinaschool,whendoestheschool-daybeginandend? Whenareworkersexpectedtocomein?Aretheredifferences betweendepartmentsinrequirements?
110.Ifyouworkinamuseumorlibrary:whendoyouopen?Whendo youclose?Doyouhavetocomeinbefore,orstayafter,formal openhoursoftheinstitution?
111.Ifyouareateacher:Doyoureceiveplanningperiods?Istherea differencebetweenthetimeyouareallottedandtheactualtime youareabletospendplanninginstruction?
112.Whatagreementsdoyouhavewithyouremployer?Areyouengaged bytheday,week,month,etc.?
113.Whatconditionsarelaiddownregardingdismissalsorleaving employment?Areyouatwillemployed?IfyouareintheUnited States,theanswerisalmostcertainly‘yes’unlessyouhavean officiallycertifiedunionatyourwork.
114.Areyoupaidweekly,biweekly,monthly,oronsomeother arrangement?
115.Whatarethedetailsofanyfringebenefitsofferedbyyour employer,ifavailable?
116.Hasyourpayeverbeendelayed?Haveyoueverhadtogointo creditcardorotherformsofdebtasaresult?
117.Howhavebudgetcutsaffectedtheinstitutioninwhichyouwork?
118.Arewagespaiddirectlybytheemployer,throughthestaffing agencies,throughsomeothermeans?
119.Ifwagesarepaidbycontractorsorotherintermediaries,whatare theconditionsofyourcontract?
120.Whatistheamountofyourmoneywagesbytheday?Theweek? Themonth?Theyear?
121.Whatarethewagesofthemostmarginalizedworkersinyour shop?
122.Whatwasthehighestdailywagelastmonthinyourshop?
123.Whatwereyourownwagesduringthesametime,andifyouhave afamily,whatwerethewagesofyourpartnerandchildren?Does yourpartnermakeless,thesame,orsignificantlymorethanyou?
124.Arewagespaidentirelyinmoney,orinsomeotherform?Does yourboss/administrationeverthrowpizzapartiesorsimilar events?
125.Whatarethepricesofnecessarycommodities?Acostofliving calculator(search“costoflivingcalculator”andyouwillfind plentyofoptions)isaneasymethodofgettinganapproximate senseofpricelevelsinyourarea.
126.Tryanddrawupaweekly,monthly,andyearlybudgetofyour incomeandexpenditureforselfandfamily.Haveyounoticed,in yourpersonalexperience,abiggerriseinthepriceofimmediate necessities,e.g.,rent,food,etc.,thaninwages?
127.Whatarethesalariesofuppermanagement/administration?What bonusesandextrabenefitsdotheyseemtoreceive?
128.Manyeducationtechnology(ed-tech)companies,including communicationplatformsandprovidersofdigitalassessments, claimthattheymakeeducatorsjobseasierHowtrueisthatin yourexperience?
129.Manyed-techcompaniesalsoclaimthattheirproductshelp educatorsbecomemoreproductive.Howtrueisthatforyou?If youhavebecomemoreproductive,haveyouoranyotherrankand-fileworkersreceivedanyraisesasaresult?
130.Haveyounoticed,inyourpersonalexperience,abiggerriseinthe priceofimmediatenecessities,e.g.,rent,food,etc.,thaninwages?
131.Statethechangesinwageswhichyouknowof.
132.Havetherebeenanypayraisesinyourworkplace?Dotheymatch upwithrisesininflation/prices?
133.Describeanyinterruptionsinemploymentcausedbychangesin fashionsandpartialandgeneralcriseslikeCovid-19.Describe yourowninvoluntaryunemployment.
134.Haveyoueverknownanyrank-and-fileworkerswhocouldretire fromemploymentattheageof65andliveonthemoneyearned bythemaswageworkers.Arethereanyworkerswhohavecome outofretirement,orneverretiredafter65,inyourworkplace?
135.Howmanyyearscanaworkerofaveragehealthbeemployedin yourjobrole?
136.Ifyouexperienceanydisabilitiesthataffectyourdailyexperience atworkinanyway,doyoureceiveanyofthenecessary accommodations?Whatarethelawsonthisinyourarea?Whatis yourpaycomparedtootherworkers?
137.Quoteanycasesknowntoyouofworkersbeingdrivenoutfrom burnoutorharassmentfromadministrations.
138.Doanyresistanceassociationslikeunionsorpoliticalcollectives existinyourworkplaceoreducationsectorandhowaretheyled? Aretheyformalorinformal?Howhelpfuldoyoufindthem?
139.Howmanystrikesandotherdirectactionshavetakenplacein yourtradeorindustrythatyouareawareof?
140.Howlongdidthesestrikesordirectactionslast?
141.Weretheyfortheobjectofincreasingwages,orwerethey organizedtoresistareductionofwages,orconnectedwiththe lengthoftheworkingday,orpromptedbyothermotives?To resistcharterschoollawsorgentrification?Somethingelse?
142.Whatweretheirresults?
143.Howhavethecourtsrespondedtotheseefforts?
144.Werestrikesinyourtradeeversupportedbystrikesofworkers belongingtoothertrades?
145.Whatifanythinghaveemployersdonetohinderstrikesor otherorganizingefforts?Havetheyevercreatedtheirown associationswiththeobjectofloweringwages,lengtheningthe workday,orgenerallyimposingtheirownwishes?
146.Havethegovernmentalbodiesregulatingyourinstitutionactedto imposepoliciesovertheoppositionofworkers?
147.Whatarethelawsonsubjectslike“CriticalRaceTheory”inyour locality?Haveeducationworkersbeentargetedforspeakingon thesesubjects?Hasanyoneself-censoredinresponsetothese laws?Doesanyoneflouttheselaws?
148.Howharddoesthegovernmentseemtoworktocallattentionto andenforcelawsandregulationsrestrictingworkers?Whatabout comparedtohowhardtheyworktocallattentiontoandenforce rulesandregulationsdesignedtorestrictemployersandempower workers?
149.Miscellaneousremarks.
“Tochangeeverything,wheredoyoustart?Everywhere!…Eachtheir ownhistorian.We’dbemorecarefulaboutthewaywelive.Me,you, him,her,them,us,allofyou….Classstruggle!”
AngryEducationWorkers’adaptationofthistextwasfirstpublished onourSubstackblogonApril20,2023tocommemoratethe143rd anniversaryofthepublishingofMarx’soriginalpamphlet.
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