New York City teacher's strike of 1968
Encyclopedia
The New York City teachers' strike of 1968 was a months-long confrontation between the new community-controlled school board in the largely black Ocean-Hill Brownsville section of Brooklyn
and New York City’s United Federation of Teachers
. The strike dragged on for months from May 1968 to November 1968, shutting down the public schools for a total of 36 days and increasing racial tensions between Blacks and Jews.
candidates to the state assembly, and was a strong supporter of unionized labor
and collective bargaining
.
By the 1960s, the area's population had become largely African-American. In 1968, the central New York City Board of Education
began experimenting with decentralization
, giving the people of the neighborhoods control over the schools in their area. The Board, actively supported by New York City mayor John Lindsay
, established the Ocean Hill-Brownsville area of Brooklyn
as one of three decentralized school district
s, in an effort to give the minority community more say in school affairs. The school district operated under a separate, community-elected governing board with the power to hire administrators. If successful, the experiment was to lead to a city-wide decentralization. While the local black population viewed it as empowerment against what it saw as an intransigent white bureaucracy, the teachers' union and other unions saw it as union busting
- a reduction in the collective bargaining power of the union who would now have to deal with 33 separate, local bodies, rather than a central administration.
. The new administration
of Ocean-Hill Brownsville summarily dismissed 13 teachers and 6 administrators, allegedly for efforts to sabotage the decentralization experiment, in violation of union contract rules. The teachers were all white and mostly Jewish.
Under the terms of the decentralization agreement, the teachers were returned to the control of the New York City public school system, where they sat idle in the school district offices. The school board’s action led to a series of citywide teacher strikes that roiled a city already on edge and strained traditional alliances — pitting liberals against labor and blacks against Jews. At the center of the storm was Albert Shanker
, leader of New York City’s United Federation of Teachers
. Over the previous decade, the junior high school teacher-turned-labor leader had played a key role in organizing New York City’s fractious teachers into a cohesive force and winning them the right to bargain collectively, finally taking the UFT’s reins in 1964.
Shanker took a tough line in demanding the reinstatement of the Ocean Hill-Brownsville educators, stating they were denied due process
, as they were removed without specific charges being filed and without a chance to defend themselves. On May 8, 1968, the union held a one-day strike in the Ocean Hill-Brownsville school district. A protracted dispute ensued, between those in the community who supported the Ocean Hill-Brownsville board and those who supported UFT's argument that the teachers were denied their rights illegally. A series of city-wide strikes took place between September 9 and November 17, 1968, shutting down the public schools for a total of 36 days. The majority of the city's 58,000 teachers defied state law to go out on strike, and more than a million students were not able to attend school during strike days. What began as a local labor dispute quickly developed into a fundamental quarrel of the teachers' union, politics, race and culture. While striking teachers picketed schools, parents and nonstriking teachers broke into schools that had been sealed off by janitors, whose unions were sympathetic to the teachers' union. Some camped on school grounds overnight to prevent further lockouts by janitors and custodians. Many supporters of the local school board resorted to racial invective. Shanker was routinely branded a racist, and many African-Americans accused the UFT of being 'Jewish-dominated'.
. The strike badly divided the city and became known as one of John Lindsay
's "Ten Plagues".
Brownsville, Brooklyn
Brownsville is a residential neighborhood located in eastern Brooklyn, New York City.The total land area is one square mile, and the ZIP code for the neighborhood is 11212....
and New York City’s United Federation of Teachers
United Federation of Teachers
The United Federation of Teachers is the labor union that represents most educators in New York City public schools. , there were about 118,000 in-service educators and 17,000 paraprofessionals in the union, as well as about 54,000 retired members...
. The strike dragged on for months from May 1968 to November 1968, shutting down the public schools for a total of 36 days and increasing racial tensions between Blacks and Jews.
Background
Brownsville was a predominantly Jewish neighborhood until the 1960s, and politically radical from the 1880s to the 1950s. The Jewish population consistently elected Socialist and American Labor PartyAmerican Labor Party
The American Labor Party was a political party in the United States established in 1936 which was active almost exclusively in the state of New York. The organization was founded by labor leaders and former members of the Socialist Party who had established themselves as the Social Democratic...
candidates to the state assembly, and was a strong supporter of unionized labor
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
and collective bargaining
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
.
By the 1960s, the area's population had become largely African-American. In 1968, the central New York City Board of Education
New York City Board of Education
The New York City Board of Education is the governing body of the New York City Department of Education. The members of the board are appointed by the mayor and by the five borough presidents.-Rise, fall and return of Mayoral Control:...
began experimenting with decentralization
Decentralization
__FORCETOC__Decentralization or decentralisation is the process of dispersing decision-making governance closer to the people and/or citizens. It includes the dispersal of administration or governance in sectors or areas like engineering, management science, political science, political economy,...
, giving the people of the neighborhoods control over the schools in their area. The Board, actively supported by New York City mayor John Lindsay
John Lindsay
John Vliet Lindsay was an American politician, lawyer and broadcaster who was a U.S. Congressman, Mayor of New York City, candidate for U.S...
, established the Ocean Hill-Brownsville area of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
as one of three decentralized school district
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
s, in an effort to give the minority community more say in school affairs. The school district operated under a separate, community-elected governing board with the power to hire administrators. If successful, the experiment was to lead to a city-wide decentralization. While the local black population viewed it as empowerment against what it saw as an intransigent white bureaucracy, the teachers' union and other unions saw it as union busting
Union busting
Union busting is a wide range of activities undertaken by employers, their proxies, and governments, which attempt to prevent the formation or expansion of trade unions...
- a reduction in the collective bargaining power of the union who would now have to deal with 33 separate, local bodies, rather than a central administration.
The strike
In May 1968, Brownsville was the setting of a protracted and highly contentious teacher strikeStrike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
. The new administration
Academic administration
An academic administration is a branch of university or college employees responsible for the maintenance and supervision of the institution and separate from the faculty or academics, although some personnel may have joint responsibilities...
of Ocean-Hill Brownsville summarily dismissed 13 teachers and 6 administrators, allegedly for efforts to sabotage the decentralization experiment, in violation of union contract rules. The teachers were all white and mostly Jewish.
Under the terms of the decentralization agreement, the teachers were returned to the control of the New York City public school system, where they sat idle in the school district offices. The school board’s action led to a series of citywide teacher strikes that roiled a city already on edge and strained traditional alliances — pitting liberals against labor and blacks against Jews. At the center of the storm was Albert Shanker
Albert Shanker
Albert Shanker was President of the United Federation of Teachers from 1964 to 1984 as well as President of the American Federation of Teachers from 1974 to 1997.-Early life:...
, leader of New York City’s United Federation of Teachers
United Federation of Teachers
The United Federation of Teachers is the labor union that represents most educators in New York City public schools. , there were about 118,000 in-service educators and 17,000 paraprofessionals in the union, as well as about 54,000 retired members...
. Over the previous decade, the junior high school teacher-turned-labor leader had played a key role in organizing New York City’s fractious teachers into a cohesive force and winning them the right to bargain collectively, finally taking the UFT’s reins in 1964.
Shanker took a tough line in demanding the reinstatement of the Ocean Hill-Brownsville educators, stating they were denied due process
Due process
Due process is the legal code that the state must venerate all of the legal rights that are owed to a person under the principle. Due process balances the power of the state law of the land and thus protects individual persons from it...
, as they were removed without specific charges being filed and without a chance to defend themselves. On May 8, 1968, the union held a one-day strike in the Ocean Hill-Brownsville school district. A protracted dispute ensued, between those in the community who supported the Ocean Hill-Brownsville board and those who supported UFT's argument that the teachers were denied their rights illegally. A series of city-wide strikes took place between September 9 and November 17, 1968, shutting down the public schools for a total of 36 days. The majority of the city's 58,000 teachers defied state law to go out on strike, and more than a million students were not able to attend school during strike days. What began as a local labor dispute quickly developed into a fundamental quarrel of the teachers' union, politics, race and culture. While striking teachers picketed schools, parents and nonstriking teachers broke into schools that had been sealed off by janitors, whose unions were sympathetic to the teachers' union. Some camped on school grounds overnight to prevent further lockouts by janitors and custodians. Many supporters of the local school board resorted to racial invective. Shanker was routinely branded a racist, and many African-Americans accused the UFT of being 'Jewish-dominated'.
Aftermath
In the end, the union prevailed. 79 teachers who had been transferred out of the district or walked out in sympathy were re-instated, and an agreement was worked out, reaffirming due process rights for New York City educators. Shanker emerged from the strike a figure of national prominence, though he was later jailed for 15 days on February 3, 1969, for sanctioning the strikes in contravention of New York's Taylor LawTaylor Law
The Public Employees Fair Employment Act refers to Article 14 of the New York State Civil Service Law, which defines the rights and limitations of unions for public employees in New York....
. The strike badly divided the city and became known as one of John Lindsay
John Lindsay
John Vliet Lindsay was an American politician, lawyer and broadcaster who was a U.S. Congressman, Mayor of New York City, candidate for U.S...
's "Ten Plagues".