North American teachers celebrate Labour Day
Teachers across Canada and the USA have used the annual Labour Day celebration, which falls on the first Monday of September, to honour the social and economic achievements of workers.
On this Labour Day, one of EI’s US affiliates, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), has made special efforts to thank teachers and educators for their enormous contribution to the country’s wealth generation.
In a Labour Day message to members, AFT President, Randi Weingarten, highlighted the importance of this year’s celebration by noting that the day “falls under the shadow of deep and broad joblessness, and, sadly, attacks upon the workers.” She went on to add that, “if allowed to continue, our deficit of jobs will become a deficit of hope.”
The AFT President emphasised the central role of education and training to create decent work in all communities: “Good jobs this century and beyond require an unprecedented level of education and training. Education’s industrial model marked by rote memorisation will no longer suffice.”
Pointing to education budget cuts in the USA, Weingarten added: “School budgets are being slashed at the same time that public schools are responding to two enormous challenges: the need to meet the knowledge economy’s requirements as well as to respond to the devastating effects of increasing levels of poverty for families.” She invited all workers to sign the America Wants to Work Pledge,created by the American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO) which is a voluntary federation of 56 national and international labour unions in the USA – to help lead the movement for good jobs.
By subscribing to the America Wants to Work Pledge, signatories refuse ‘to accept claims that America can’t afford to create jobs and will judge all politicians, of any party, by the leadership they display in retaining and creating good jobs.’
To sign the petition please click here
AFT President, Randi Weingarten, also chairs EI’s OECD Advisory Committee to shape the international response to OECD policy, as well as organising advocacy to inform governments on how to implement OECD recommendations while upholding the interest of teachers and public education.
