The LA Teachers’ Strike was an historic moment in US labor history.

UTLA put the demands of students, parents, and the community first and won the overwhelming support of Los Angelenos. It unleashed a strike the likes of which had not been seen in decades, and won a smashing victory.

Our speakers will explain how the teachers did it and how they plan to take the struggle to the next level.

Eric Blanc A former high school teacher, he is the author of Red State Revolt: The Teachers' Strike Wave and Working-Class Politics. Eric’s writings on the public education labor upsurge have appeared in Jacobin, The Nation, and The Guardian.

Joshua Pechthalt A former teacher at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, he is currently the President of the California Federation of Teachers. Joshua had previously served as vice president of the United Teachers of Los Ange- les (UTLA), the country’s second largest teachers union, coming to office on a rank and file slate that is the direct predecessor of the Union Power caucus, which led the recent strike.