Teachers united : the rise of New York State united teachers / Dennis Gaffney.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 251-256) and index.

Beginnings -- Radical roots : the rise of the United Federation of Teachers -- Teacher militancy in the 1960s -- Entering the political fray : the Jerabek attack -- Growing up : the merger -- Planting the seeds of unity -- Merger negotiations begin -- The Concord convention : from two enemies, one union -- A national merger? -- Coming apart -- Maturity -- Wielding political power -- Educational reform -- International solidarity.

"This book tells the story of the rise of New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), New York State's largest union. Using first-hand accounts by rank-and-file teachers as well as leaders, Dennis Gaffney documents how teachers, once underpaid and hopelessly divided, finally organized, lifting themselves from the underclass to the middle class to become a formidable grassroots political force able to defeat and elect U.S. senators. He describes how New York's teachers sparked the modern-day teachers' movement, and what key lessons other labor unions can learn from NYSUT's unity and success. Teachers United also shows how NYSUT has been a leader of educational reform, winning more money for education, creating smaller classes, raising academic standards, and training better teachers.