The 1968 Florida Teachers’ Strike: Public Sector Unionism and the Fight against Sunshine State Conservatism
Thu Jan 15 2026
Dr. Jody Baxter Noll recounts the 1968 Florida Teachers’ Strike, in which 27,000 teachers across the state, amidst a shift in Florida politics toward a pro-business and suburban “Sunshine conservatism” reluctant to raise taxes for public education, submitted their resignations to gain collective bargaining rights and improved school funding. Noll is a Lecturer in the History Department at Georgia State University and author of The 1968 Florida Teachers’ Strike: Public Sector Unionism and the Fight against Sunshine State Conservatism.
Related Resources:
The 1968 Florida Teachers’ Strike: Public Sector Unionism and the Fight against Sunshine State Conservatism
Related Collections:
AFT Office of the President Records (LR001553)
AFT President’s Office: Albert Shanker Records (LR001553_Shanker)
AFT Southern Regional Office Records (LR001863)
Howard Hursey Papers (LP2047)
Episode Credits
Interviewee: Jody Baxter Noll
Producers: Dan Golodner and Troy Eller English
Music: Bart Bealmear
More
Dr. Jody Baxter Noll recounts the 1968 Florida Teachers’ Strike, in which 27,000 teachers across the state, amidst a shift in Florida politics toward a pro-business and suburban “Sunshine conservatism” reluctant to raise taxes for public education, submitted their resignations to gain collective bargaining rights and improved school funding. Noll is a Lecturer in the History Department at Georgia State University and author of The 1968 Florida Teachers’ Strike: Public Sector Unionism and the Fight against Sunshine State Conservatism. Related Resources: The 1968 Florida Teachers’ Strike: Public Sector Unionism and the Fight against Sunshine State Conservatism Related Collections: AFT Office of the President Records (LR001553) AFT President’s Office: Albert Shanker Records (LR001553_Shanker) AFT Southern Regional Office Records (LR001863) Howard Hursey Papers (LP2047) Episode Credits Interviewee: Jody Baxter Noll Producers: Dan Golodner and Troy Eller English Music: Bart Bealmear