US student strike planned against cuts

Friday, February 19, 2010 - 11:00

The following call for a national strike and day of action in defence of public education was released by the California Coordinating Committee. It is reprinted from

We can beat back the cuts if we unite students, workers and teachers across all sectors of public education. We appeal to the leaders of the trade union movement to support and organise strikes or other actions on March 4.

The weight of workers and students united in strikes and mobilisations would shift the balance of forces entirely against the agenda of cuts and make victory possible.

Building a powerful movement to defend public education will, in turn, advance the struggle in defence of all public-sector workers and services, and will be an inspiration to all those fighting against wars, for immigrants' rights, in defence of jobs, for single-payer health care, and other progressive causes.

On October 24, more than 800 students, workers, and teachers converged on the University of California, Berkeley at the Mobilising Conference to Save Public Education.

This massive meeting brought together representatives from more 100 different schools, unions, and organisations from all across California and from all sectors of public education.

After hours of open collective discussion, the participants voted democratically, as their main decision, to call for a strike and day of action on March 4. All schools, unions and organisations are free to choose their specific demands and tactics — such as strikes, rallies, walkouts, occupations, sit-ins or teach-ins. etc.