The Teachers’ Victory

New York’s public school teachers, by a show of militancy, unity and determination, scored a striking victory in early September. More, their victory pushed open new doors through which the declining labor movement could easily march if its leadership would have the imagination to grasp this opportunity.

The scope of the teachers’ victory ought not to be underestimated. More important even than the substantial money package of over $25 million in salaries is the fact that henceforth the 43,000 teachers, represented by their United Federation of Teachers, are a power to be reckoned with. An elaborate grievance setup, if properly policed by union stewards, ought to put an end once and for all to the system of petty tyran...