Australia: Labor government tightens war-related powers over universities
As in the US and Europe, a wartime-style atmosphere is being created, backed by threats of punishment of researchers and universities that fail to comply.
Mike Head•
Educators Rank-and-File Committee
The Educators Rank-and-File Committee is an international network of educators, students, parents, and workers fighting for workers power in the schools, to stop the capitalist destruction of public education and eliminate COVID-19.
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Australia: Teachers on the front line of the NDIS cuts
Alongside people with disabilities and their families, the Labor government’s gutting of the National Disability Insurance Scheme will have a devastating impact on teachers and education support staff in Australia’s already crisis-ridden public schools.
Carolyn Kennett•
Australia: Vote No to the third AEU-Labor Sellout! Build the Victorian Educators Rank-and-File Committee!
The Australian Education Union is once again trying to bulldoze Victorian teachers and staff into accepting a wage and condition cutting sellout that they have twice rejected.
Committee for Public Education•
Australian Education Union pushing new sellout of Victorian teachers after anti-democratic conference
The AEU is once again trying to stampede educators into accepting a sellout through a rushed ballot that does not allow for discussion or debate.
Committee for Public Education•
A WSU Rank-and-File Committee member•
Dayananda Ratnayake, Kapila Fernando•
Our correspondent•
Frank Gaglioti•
Jesse Thomas, Barry Grey•
National Steel Car workers in Hamilton, Ontario launch strike for second time in three years
More than 1,200 workers at National Steel Car in Hamilton, Ontario went on strike at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, August 12. The walkout followed a decisive vote to reject the company’s “last, best, and final offer,” which was handed out to workers over the heads of the United Steelworkers Local 7135 Friday afternoon.
Dylan Lubao•
Australian Education Union pushing new sellout of Victorian teachers after anti-democratic conference
The AEU is once again trying to stampede educators into accepting a sellout through a rushed ballot that does not allow for discussion or debate.
Committee for Public Education•
National Steel Car workers: Reject the corporate/USW “partnership!” Prepare strike action under rank-and-file control!
The centrepiece of USW Local 7135’s 2026 contract campaign—the elimination of the “incentive” program,” i.e., piecework—has evaporated over the last two weeks. The union now proposes to get involved in administering the piecework program rather than abolish it.
National Steel Car Rank-and-File Committee•
Postal workers in Britain condemn death threat against Will Lehman by UAW official
Postal workers at Royal Mail in Britain have added their voices to the growing international condemnation of the public death threat made against Will Lehman, a Mack Trucks worker and candidate in the United Auto Workers presidential election, by a senior UAW official.
our correspondent•
Industrial Workers Rank-and-File Group (Australia)•
A member of the National Steel Car Rank-and-File Committee•
Committee for Public Education•
Western Sydney University Rank-and-File Committee•
Committee for Public Education•
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the term “rank-and-file” mean and where does it come from?
“Rank-and-file” is originally a military term. It refers to the lower “ranks” of soldiers, who literally stand in lines or “files”. These soldiers have a different set of interests in preserving their lives than the officers or “brass” who prosecute the wars on behalf of the ruling elite.
Rank-and-file committees are of, by and for the rank-and-file workers, who have a different set of interests in preserving their lives than management, the bosses, the politicians, and the trade union apparatus, who send workers to die while defending the profits of the ruling elite.
Is it legal to build rank-and-file committees of educators and other workers to stop the spread of COVID-19?
Yes. The formation of rank-and-file committees is 100% completely legal under the First Amendment to the US Constitution.
The right to freedom of speech means you can say whatever you like about what you agree or disagree with. Freedom of association, also covered under the first amendment, means you have the right to associate with others who share your views, for political ends. You also have the right to petition the government for redress, to make demands on the government and tell them what you want them to do.
Does HIPAA law prevent schools or workplaces from disclosing information about the spread of COVID-19?
No. HIPAA has an exception for disclosures to prevent and control the spread of disease, but the state is deliberately not invoking this exception in order to conceal information from workers, so that they can pretend that what they are doing is safe when it’s not.
Rank-and-file educators have the right to know who’s gotten sick, where, when, and what happened. Rank-and-file committees have to demand this information, and have to share it with other workers as a matter of collective self defense.