The Seattle organizing landscape is fairly progressive, but there are still issues and, as we often see in social justice organizing, rank-and-file caucus members still have to push the Seattle Education Association on many issues. To this end, organizer and member Peter Henry, along with other members like Darrin Hoop, wrote and passed Resolution NBI – 100520-3 – Protecting US Democracy. This resolution called for a post-election emergency meeting that would determine whether or not a coup was underway. Of course, a coup could occur any time before the inauguration, but it is generally understood that the most serious attempts would occur closest to the election. 

What is the Seattle organizing landscape?

-In an interview with Darrin Hoop (an active member of the Seattle Education Association, National Educators United, and a number of local equity caucuses), he described the organizing landscape as incredibly rich and diverse, both in terms of people and topics. Seattle has a long history of union organizing and striking, including the 1919 Seattle General Strike, and there are always meetings and protests for various social justice causes. There is especially a lot of socialist organizing and young people and student organizing, as well as especially active immigrant rights and environmental justice organizations.

-The Seattle unions tend to be more progressive than most places in the country, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. Seattle unions typically lack diverse leadership and, if they were stronger, would be able to more easily implement tangible changes, such as an Ethnic Studies program.⁷

What is the importance of rank and file educators within these unions?

-Darrin Hoop sees the role of rank and file organizers as organizing themselves and pushing unions, since “it’s so rare that [union leaders] do the right thing without being pushed… I believe unions exist to negotiate the terms of exploitation between the bosses and employers. They’re needed and they’re important, but they’re not gonna change the conditions unless members push.”

-It’s so important to build coalition around students and educators, and to use those coalitions to organize for (and win!) real change. “We have a long way to go, but that process… it keeps me motivated.”⁷