Teachers, school support employees, and the Texas labor movement joined together during the 2005 Texas Legislative Session to oppose further attacks against the public schools. As the session drew to a close and Governor Perry announced that he would not call a special session, labor's furious efforts brought success.
We were under siege on many fronts. The right-wingers controlling the state
government wanted to raise class sizes, take away work rules, and slash pensions.
They put out misleading publicity in favor of spending for schools while, in
actuality, looking for ways to provide tax benefits for the richest corporations
and people in the state at the expense of the children and school employees.
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) was prominent in the battle. They organized a dramatic press conference and rally on May 23 outside a Dallas school. Speakers blasted the various plans for cutting school employees and handing over money to private schools, big business, and the legislators' own retirement plan. "Do No Harm," part of the medical doctors' traditional oath, was one of their loudest demands directed to the legislature.
Union lobbyists
in Austin labored for the schools. Ordinary workers all over the state, largely
organized over the internet by AFL-CIO Communications Director Ed Sills, pitched
in by contacting their representatives. Near the end of the session, Sills commented,
"Although some significant legislation has moved through, the school finance
package was the acid test, and lawmakers never really looked like they were
up to the task. Given that the United Labor Legislative Committee and Texas
Federation of Teachers strongly opposed both bills, both in the House and Senate,
it is a relief that neither passed. But it can't be taken as good news that
the state is unable to address its school finance problem and that the issue
remains alive in the courts."
In July, top Texas judges are supposed to rule on the constitutionality of
the present school finance system. The battle for Texas schools is certain to
continue after that.