Teachers in Oklahoma are going on strike despite getting a 16,000
dollar raise, because the state is still not meeting their demands on
school funding:
Teachers in Arizona are prepared to strike:
Oklahoma approves teacher pay increase but union says it's not enough, walkout still on
State ranks 49th teacher salaries
By:
· MADISON PARK, CNN
Posted: Mar 29, 2018 02:16 AM PDT
Updated: Mar 29, 2018 04:11 PM PDT
(CNN) - Oklahoma legislators approved a measure including a $6,100 pay
raise for teachers, but the state teacher's union says the bill doesn't
go far enough and plans to walk out Monday.
House
Bill 1010XX, which was described as "the largest teacher pay raise in
the history of the state" passed both the state House and Senate this
week. Gov. Mary Fallin signed the bill on Thursday.
"This
is a very historic moment in Oklahoma's time," Fallin said of funding
measures that included the pay boost. "It was not easy getting here."
For
weeks, Oklahoma teachers have been considering a walkout over what they
say is their breaking point over pay and education funding. The state
ranks 49th in the nation in teacher salaries, according to the National
Education Association, in a list that includes Washington, D.C.
Mississippi and South Dakota rank lower.
Inspired
by the West Virginia strike in which teachers demanded and got a pay
raise from state leaders earlier this month, similar efforts have taken
off in Oklahoma and Arizona.
The
Oklahoma Education Association, the state's largest teachers' union
that represents nearly 40,000 members and school personnel, called the
passage of the bill "a truly historic moment," but one that remains
"incomplete," according to its president, Alicia Priest.
Teachers and school staff will walk off their jobs on Monday and descend on the state Capitol, she said in video comments posted on Facebook.
Oklahoma City Public Schools said all classes and activities are canceled for that day because of the walkout.
"While
this is major progress, this investment alone will not undo a decade of
neglect," Priest said. "Lawmakers have left funding on the table that
could be used immediately to help Oklahoma students."
"This
package doesn't overcome shortfall caused by four-day weeks,
overcrowded classrooms that deprive kids of the one-on-one attention
they need. It's not enough," Priest said. "We must continue to push for
more annual funding for our schools to reduce class size and restore
more of the 28% of funds they cut from education over the last decade."
The
OEA had also called for $10,000 pay raises for teachers over the next
three years and $5,000 pay raises for full-time support professionals
such as custodians, secretaries, bus drivers and food service workers.
"We
asked for $10,000 over three years. This gets us part of the way there,
and so we need to have the Legislature guarantee that we are still
working to get to that," Priest had told CNN affiliate KFOR.
Arizona teachers: 'I don't want to strike, but I will.'
In Arizona, thousands of teachers and supporters wearing red swarmed the state Capitol on Wednesday, calling for higher pay and better education funding under what they called #REDforED.
The
color red was meant to convey their frustration, which they say has
reached a crisis level. Teachers have been wearing red shirts every Wednesday
and encouraging supporters to do the same, according to the Arizona
Education Association, which has 20,000 members who are teachers,
counselors, bus drivers and retired educators.
Educators
wore stickers reading: "I don't want to strike, but I will." The rally
drew about 2,500 people, the Arizona Department of Public Safety told
CNN affiliate KNXV.
Arizona
Educators United, a coalition of educators, demands a 20% salary
increase for teachers, competitive pay for all education support
professionals, as well as education funding restored to 2008 levels.
"Our
classrooms go without updated textbooks, basic supplies, and
technology. We have among the highest class sizes and school counselor
loads in the nation, making it difficult to meet the individual needs of
our students," the group stated.
Arizona ranks 43rd in the nation in teacher salaries, according to the National Education Association.
Teachers
say they are overworked and underpaid. They want better pay and are
encouraging each other to organize via social media. They're hoping
their very public display of frustration will pressure state leaders,
such as Gov. Doug Ducey.
State
Sen. John Kavanagh, the Appropriations Committee chairman, told KNXV
that tax increases to pay for K-12 education are off the table, as
voters have opposed the idea in the past.
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