AFT-Speeches

Shanker is speaking in front of the Commission on the Future of Worker-Management Relations or later named the "Dunlop Commission" specifically about the Yeshiva decision and hoping that they would reverse the decision legislatively. He gives examples of the rise of professional unionism in the United States, he sights organizing doctors at the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, talks about the Toledo Plan or Peer Assistance and Review, Rochester Teachers Association and finally the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. After his statement, Shanker took a variety of questions.

Marcia Reese, assistant to the president of the AFT, interviews Shanker about his column ‘Where We Stand’ The interview moves further on the development of Al’s thinking via the column with various education reforms from open classrooms to peer review. They also discuss Shanker’s education, early career as a teacher and forming the United Federation of Teachers.

Al Shanker comments on Dan Sanders, an official retiring from the NYSUT (New York State United Teachers). Shanker talks about Sanders's efforts during the merger of NYSTA (New York State Teachers Association) and UTNY (United Teachers of New York) to form NYSUT. He also commends Sanders's position as editor of the union's newspaper and his role in fighting vouchers. He also speaks of his personal friendship with Sanders, his colleague and neighbor. Next, Shanker answers questions about Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel (PSRP). He speaks about why they should join AFT, and he envisions a new school model in which PSRPs would play a larger and more egalitarian role than currently. In this new school of the future, Shanker argues, PSRPs would benefit from union representation even more.

These short remarks condemn the Soviet government's oppression of Jewish citizens wishing to emigrate to Israel. Al Shanker cites the cases of two men in particular, Anatoly Scharansky and Yosef Begun, who were jailed in Siberia for several years for attempting to emigrate. In light of these actions, Shanker decries America's moves to enter into agreements with the Soviets.