critical childhoods

Group photo of Sesame Street workers holding their firsts high with graphics showing the logo of their new union and the winning vote tally, 55-19

Sesame Street is officially UNION! Workers at Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street, have voted 55-19 to join @opeiulocal153.bsky.social

Huge congrats to @sesameworkersunion.bsky.social! “We can officially say that today, May 15th, is brought to you by the letter U!”

we did it joe @opeiulocal153.bsky.social

hot @sesameworkersunion.bsky.social summer

A t shirt, tote bag, and hat representing Sesame Workers Union

We are very excited to announce we officially have MERCH!

Proceeds go to a mutual aid fund for Sesame workers in need! 💚

A special thank you to our Swaggle Rock team for all their hard work in this endeavor 💚

shop.worxprinting.coop/collections/...

#sesamestreet #sesameworkersunion #union

The most fun way to show solidarity is with a cheeky @sesameworkersunion.bsky.social hat! Though I personally prefer the tote.

All my gratitude goes out to @tempestmag.bsky.social for this genuine conversation about organizing, care, and solidarity on our @sesameworkersunion.bsky.social campaign.

Union days, sweepin’ the clouds away! ☀️

Here are some highlights from a recent article from the Tempest, featuring our very own Phoebe Gilpin.

“One thing we are trying to offer right now is hope” 💛

#sesamestreet #sesameworkshop #sesameworkersunion #union #1u

Republican leaders in Congress & the Trump admin are following the Project 2025 playbook & trying to shut down funding for independent public television & radio stations.

NABET-CWA members are fighting back to defend PBS and NPR!

📸: Boston and DC

We stand with (and are the people behind) Elmo! @sesameworkersunion.bsky.social

Thanks for the solidarity! @sesameworkersunion.bsky.social

Solidarity with Sesame Workers The recent unjust layoffs of dedicated Sesame Workshop workers following their announcement to form a union with OPEIU Local 153 contradicts the core principles of the community that Sesame Street cla...

S is for SOLIDARITY—let’s help the Sesame Street workers as they fight the expropriation of kid’s media! Sign the below and spread the word! @kimkelly.bsky.social @ericblanc.bsky.social @maximillianalvarez.bsky.social @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social @astra.bsky.social

actionnetwork.org/letters/soli...

Not sure who the “they” is here, but would love for Sesame to do its purported values by recognizing @sesameworkersunion.bsky.social! The numbers in this article also aren’t totally numbering, so we made a handy 💵 explainer

A picture of Big Bird looking sad alongside an article title “Why Does Big Bird look so Sad?” With the subheading “Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind “Sesame Street” is confronting what executives have described as a “perfect storm” of problems.”

Text against an orange backdrop that reads: “Sesame Workshop cut about 20 percent of its staff, or nearly 100 people, a few weeks ago. Without the cost cuts, the organization would face a deficit of nearly $40 million next year, according to internal documents reviewed by The New York Times. Even with the cuts, it has had to draw $6 million from its investment fund for the first time in more than a decade to help cover some of the budget shortfalls.”

Article text with a financial document below it. The article text reads: “Sherrie Westin, a 27-year veteran of Sesame Workshop who became chief executive last year, acknowledged in an interview that the nonprofit faced a new economic reality but said she was “confident we will be able to sustain this work.” “This is not a rejection of ‘Sesame Street’, and ‘Sesame Street’ is not going away,” she said. “But we absolutely have a responsibility to change as the world-“ The financial document below the text is from a 2023 990 form that states CEO Steve Youngwood’s compensation as $1,022,143 and then President Sherrie Westin’s as $864,748

An article text with a financial document below it. The article text reads: “But it paid off financially. Even as recently as 2022, Sesame Workshop generated $271 million in revenue and more than $20 million in profit, according to financial forms” The financial document (2023 990 Form) below the article text states reconciliation of net assets. The total net assets is “$439,021,078” and appears large and encircled

(1/2)

Why does Big Bird look so sad?

We can’t be sure but it could have to do with #sesameworkshop management denying workers severance with $439,021,780 in assets

(The financial data included is pulled from our most recent 990 tax form, published on sesameworkshop.org)

#sesameworkersunion

An article that reads “despite the troubles facing the organization, the timing of the job cuts was still notable to staff. Much of Sesame Workshop’s administrative work force — which includes education experts, fund-raisers and paralegals — had been preparing to declare a union for months. On March 4, the employees announced that they were forming a union and kicked it off with a rally outside the nonprofit’s Midtown Manhattan offices. Immediately after the rally, workers assembled for a staff meeting where they learned about the cuts.”

An article that reads “”We really went from our highest highs to our lowest lows that day,” said Phoebe Gilpin, a senior director of formal learning at Sesame Workshop, who was laid off. “It was a moment of joyful celebration and elation, and then emotional whiplash.” Six of the seven workers who spoke at that rally soon found out they were laid off, said David Homer-Hodges, a director of organizing at a local chapter at the Office and Professional Employees International Union, the union the workers are seeking to join.”

An article that reads “a spokeswoman for Sesame Workshop said the job cuts “were planned* and fully decided upon well before we were aware of employees’ intent to organize, and the union’s official demand for recognition coincided with the announcement of the layoffs” The union efforts will continue despite the job cuts, Mr. Hamer-Hodges said, though Sesame Workshop leadership has indicated that it will not voluntarily recognize the union. * If the job cuts were planned, then why did Sesame Workshop spend hundreds of thousands of dollars giving bonuses to the higher ups on October 31st?”

Text against an orange background with the SWU logo and the letter U that reads “CEO Sherrie Westin and the Board of Trustees at Sesame Workshop are refusing to recognize our union. We, the workers of Sesame Workshop, are asking for severance and livable wages. With a voluntarily recognized union, we could immediately begin the bargaining process, which would include bargaining over the terms of our recent layoffs. Please sign our public petition (link in bio!) to urge Sesame Workshop management to recognize our union.”

(2/2)

Why does Big Bird look so sad?

We can’t be sure but it could do with #sesameworkshop denying workers severance with $439,021,780 in assets

(The financial data included is pulled from our most recent 990 tax form, published on sesameworkshop.org)

Anthony is a Sesame employee who was just laid off while he awaits an anticipated kidney transplant. As a full time contract worker, he was denied severance-- unlike his colleagues considered "staff."

We believe ALL workers contribute to our mission and so ALL workers deserve severance.

I’ll say it again: 6/7 of the union organizers who spoke at our public rally were laid off. Publish that @npr.org

Deputy Public Advocate Kennedy poses with seven Sesame Street Union members near Lincoln Center, holding signs with messages like "U is for Union" and "Solidarity Forever. Smarter, Stronger, Kinder together!"

We all grew up on Sesame Street values of fairness and kindness, which makes layoffs more egregious.

@sesameworkshop.bsky.social: Negotiate with @opeiulocal153.bsky.social's @sesameworkersunion.bsky.social, and work towards voluntary recognition together.

Put your employees first on Sesame Street.

SESAME STREET WORKERS ARE UNIONIZING!!! ✊

This morning, workers at the nonprofit behind Sesame Street delivered their letter asking for voluntary recognition to management!

Read all about it: www.opeiulocal153.org/news/employe...

Love that we made a phonics mistake while defending phonics.

Not sure if this is a critique of me or Caulkins, but to clarify, I’m with you that teaching phonics is critical to reading instruction.

This! Interpret with caution, unless it fits the model I’ve developed based on preconstruced knowledge and assumptions. Then we’re good.

Came here to see if anyone approved of this. I’m so relieved absolutely no one commented that this is a good parenting move.

To us.

The correct answer is rye

NLRB absolutely nails it again.

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@nycdsa.bsky.social’s Organizing Conference may be on hold, but fear not, you can still do an in-person Red Sprouts training at the same day and time! Join us Saturday 10/21 from 10:30-12:30; all grown-up comrades are welcome: no experience or parentage needed. actionnetwork.org/campaigns/re...

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Look out folks, lefty families are doin politics! Thanks to Raina Lipsitz for the write up and kind words on Red Sprouts and @comradeswkids.bsky.social

www.thenation.com/article/soci...

In an expensive city like New York, who should get free childcare? Literally everyone!

NYC-DSA Red Sprouts The Red Sprouts 2 Organizing team (the Bulb) envisions our work as part of a culture shift for NYC-DSA, and therefore we see ourselves as internal organizers. We hope these workshops will help promote...

Want to set up a mutual aid childcare? Us too!

Join the Red Sprouts training sessions to figure out your vision for and how to make informed decisions in executing your kid-safe spaces. Remote and in-person options for @dsa.bsky.social members and beyond. actionnetwork.org/campaigns/re...

One of the most salient myths about public (and all) education is that it transcends the politics and cultural values of its time. It’s unfortunately not here to do better, but makes a great mirror to examine our priorities.