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Statewide public education strikes, 2018

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Beginning with a nine-day teacher strike in West Virginia from February 22 to March 6, statewide teacher and public school staff strikes spread to Oklahoma, Kentucky, Arizona, and North Carolina.

Public school employees demanded higher pay, improvements to pension systems, and increased education funding.[1]

Click on the following links for more information about the strikes in:

Walkout vs. strike

In West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Arizona, educators, and organizers chose to use the word walkout rather than strike. Media coverage of the strikes used both walkout and strike interchangeably.

  • West Virginia. Jessica Morgan, a spokeswoman for the West Virginia Education Association, said a walkout indicated a planned work stoppage for a certain amount of time, whereas a strike had no end date until a compromise was reached with legislators. Speaking before teachers began protesting, Morgan referred to her organization's actions as a walkout since educators originally intended to begin protesting on February 22 and go back to work on February 26.[2]
  • Oklahoma. Kent Wong, director of the UCLA Labor Center and vice president of the California Federation of Teachers, told The Arizona Republic that teachers in Oklahoma staged a walkout—not a strike—because they had the support of superintendents and school boards.[3]
  • Arizona. Tucson attorney Ivelisee Bonilla told Tucson News Now that a strike occurs when employees protest against management for better work conditions. Since Arizona teachers were protesting against the government, they were participating in a walkout, she said.[4]
  • North Carolina. Teachers referred to an advocacy day instead of a strike or walkout. Melissa Easley, a teacher in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district, said it was illegal to strike in North Carolina and that teachers had to use personal days and were charged a $50 fee by the district for taking the day off.[5]

Ballotpedia's word choice

The Bureau of Labor Statistics defined strike as follows:[6]

“ A strike is a temporary stoppage of work by a group of workers (not necessarily union members) to express a grievance or enforce a demand. A strike is initiated by the workers of an establishment.[7] ”

Ballotpedia chose to use the Bureau of Labor Statistics' definition as of May 14, 2018. We used the term strike for matters of consistency and clarity in our coverage.

2018 statewide public education strikes

Click on the tabs below to learn more about the statewide public education strikes in 2018.

Arizona

Arizona public school teachers strike

See also:

A teacher vote between April 17 and 19 resulted in the decision to strike on April 26. The vote was organized by Arizona Educators United, which describes itself on Twitter as "an education group created to support Arizona educators."[8][9] Arizona teachers began a statewide strike—the first ever in the state—on April 26, 2018, after protesting throughout the month at schools and the state capitol for higher pay and education funding.[10] The strike lasted six days, ending on May 3, 2018, after Gov. Doug Ducey (R) signed an education bill raising teacher pay by 20 percent by 2020 and allocating $371 million to restore recession-era cuts over five years.

Background

  • The National Education Association ranked the average salary for Arizona teachers ($47,403) in 2017 as 44th out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. The national average for teacher salaries in 2017 was $59,660.[11]
  • An Arizona attorney general opinion from 1971 said a statewide teacher strike would be illegal and participating teachers could lose their licenses. According to U.S. News & World Report, no school districts at the time of the strike said they would fire teachers or take away licenses.[12]

April 12: Gov. Ducey announces 20 by 2020 plan

  • Republican Gov. Doug Ducey announced a plan to increase teacher salaries 20 percent by the 2020 school year. The governor's plan would increase teacher pay 9 percent in the 2018-2019 school year with 5 percent increases in the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years, amounting to a 20 percent net increase by 2020. (The calculation included a 1 percent raise from the 2017-2018 school year.)[13]
  • Ducey also proposed investing $371 million in funds over the next five years with an additional $100 million investment in fiscal year 2019. The funds could be used to invest in a variety of resources, including school infrastructure, curriculum, transportation, and/or classroom technologies, according to a statement from the governor's office.[13]
  • According to the Associated Press, teacher and Arizona Educators United organizer Derek Harris expressed skepticism about Ducey's proposal: "What he gave us today was just a proposal, it wasn’t legislation, and we don’t know where the money’s coming from and we don’t know if he’s talking about everybody involved in education or just classroom teachers."[14]
  • Arizona Educators United tweeted that Ducey's proposal was not enough.
  • House Speaker J.D. Mesnard (R) also proposed a plan to raise teacher pay 23 percent over five years, beginning with a 6 percent increase in the 2018-2019 school year. Mesnard's plan would have funded the pay raise by reallocating existing school funds while the governor's proposal would use revenue from savings and new funds.[15]
  • Mesnard did not comment directly on the governor's proposal but said, "We all share the same priority."[15]
  • Chuck Essigs, director of government relations for the Arizona Association of School Business Officials, did not support Mesnard's plan. "Any proposal that wants to increase teacher salaries by 20 percent but does not want to put any more money into the school funding is leading Arizona schools and charter schools down a road to disaster," he said.[16]

April 19: Arizona teachers vote for strike, planned for April 26

  • Arizona education leaders announced that 78 percent of 57,000 teachers voted to strike on April 26, preceded by three days of walk-ins.[17]


Arizona teachers voted between April 17 and April 19 on whether to stage a statewide strike to demand more education funding. The vote was organized by Arizona Educators United.[8] According to The Daily Sentinel, teachers decided to protest because Ducey ignored their demands to raise support staff pay, restore school funding to 2008 levels, and stop tax cuts until school funding reaches the national average.[18]
  • Gov. Doug Ducey (R) responded by reaffirming his commitment to raising teacher pay by 20 percent.
  • House Speaker J.D. Mesnard (R) responded that teachers should have waited for lawmakers to act on a teacher pay raise: "The governor and the Legislature are working hard to get more resources to education and teacher pay. We are talking about a substantial teacher-pay increase. It would have been nice for them to wait and see how that goes."[19]

April 20: Ducey vetoes 10 bills, demands budget that raises teacher pay

  • Gov. Doug Ducey (R) vetoed 10 bills, all sponsored by House Republicans. According to AZ Central, each veto letter read, "Please, send me a budget that gives teachers a 20 percent raise by 2020 and restores additional assistance."[19]
  • Republican lawmakers said they did not want to override what they believed should be the authority of local school boards.
    • Sen. Rick Gray (R) said he hoped school boards would raise teacher pay but added, "We don’t want to try and take the governing boards’ job away from them."[19]
    • Sen. Sonny Borrelli (R) said he was "uneasy micromanaging political subdivisions."[19]
    • Rep. Anthony Kern (R) said the majority of the House GOP caucus did not want to dictate teacher pay.[19]
  • Republican lawmakers also disagreed about funding sources. Gov. Ducey proposed raising teacher pay with new tax revenue generated from the state's expanding economy. Legislative leaders expressed doubt about the governor's plan.[19]
  • Democratic lawmakers said they had not been included in negotiations for increased teacher pay. Sen. Sean Bowie (D) said he believed a teacher pay raise should not rely on projected revenue. "If the economy goes into recession, we’re going to be in a big budget hole," he said.[19]

April 23: Rep. Noel Campbell discusses education budget amendment

  • Republican Rep. Noel Campbell told The Arizona Republic that he would propose a three-year, 1-cent education sales tax increase as a budget amendment once the legislature introduced a budget. The amendment would increase discretionary funding for public schools by $880 million per year.[20]

April 24: Rep. Townsend threatens class action lawsuit

  • Rep. Kelly Townsend (R) tweeted that she was discussing a class action lawsuit for those impacted by the strike.

April 25: GOP legislators say they won't give in to teacher demands

  • Senate President Steven B. Yarbrough (R) and House Speaker J.D. Mesnard (R) said they were working with Gov. Doug Ducey (R) on boosting teacher pay 20 percent by 2020 but also said they would not respond to teacher demands for more education funding and higher support staff pay.[21]
A statement from Yarbrough read:[22]
“ It is unfortunate that many teachers are apparently preparing to strike, walking out on the students and forcing schools to close their doors. The children are the real victims of a strike. While the schools close, the Legislature remains open, with leaders attempting to complete their task to bring the teachers significantly better pay. We hear their frustration.[7] ”
  • Sen. John Kavanagh (R) said teachers' demands were outrageous and unreachable. To those impacted by the strike, he said, "You should be upset at [teachers] for abandoning kids when they’ve been promised 20 in ’20 and it looks like a good deal."[23]
  • Arizona teachers prepared for the strike.

April 26: Teacher strike begins

  • About 50,000 teachers marched to the state capitol, demanding a 20 percent teacher pay raise, raises for support staff, and an increase in school funding to pre-recession levels, which would amount to about $1 billion.[24][25]
Arizona Education Association President Joe Thomas said, "I know that it sounds like it's almost incredulous that anyone would ask for that much of a raise, but we're just trying to get competitive salaries. A 20 percent raise still has us beneath the national average."[26]
  • At least 100 school districts of the state's 200 districts announced closures, affecting about 75 percent of the state's public school students.[25][27]
  • According to The Guardian, unions proposed a 2.5 percent tax on financial and legal services to raise revenue for education funding. They projected the taxes would bring in $2.5 billion per year.[28]
  • Gov. Doug Ducey (R) released a statement in which he encouraged citizens to "call your legislator and tell them to vote 'yes' on a 20 percent pay raise for Arizona teachers."[29]
  • Rep. David Livingston (R) said legislators agreed to Ducey's plan and expected to present a formal budget bill the week of April 30.[30]

April 27: Gov, legislators announce budget deal with K-12 funding and teacher pay raise

  • Gov. Doug Ducey's (R) office released a statement on April 27 that said the government would restore school funding to pre-recession era levels and increase teacher pay by 20 percent without raising taxes.[31] Daniel Scarpinato, a spokesman for Gov. Ducey, said the budget included funding for the raise plus $100 million for school districts.[32]
  • Arizona Education Association President Joe Thomas and Arizona Educators United organizer and teacher Noah Karvelis released a joint statement saying they did not trust the governor's announcement.[33]
  • Jessica Hauer, a former teacher now working in administration, said $100 million was not enough and questioned the sustainability of Ducey's plan: "Not only is there an issue with teacher salaries, but our buildings. I don't think $100 million is enough. From the numbers I'm seeing we've been in such a decline for such a long period of time, 10 years, that's it's not going to be enough money. And I'm not sure his plan is sustainable."[34]
  • A separate group in support of education funding filed a ballot initiative at the secretary of state's office that would raise the income tax by 3.46 percent on individual incomes above $250,000 or on household incomes above $500,000, and by 4.46 percent on individual incomes above $500,000 and household incomes above $1 million. The measure required 150,000 signatures by July 5 for inclusion on the ballot. The initiative would allocate 60 percent of the funds to teacher salaries and 40 percent to school operations and maintenance expenses.[32]
  • A lawyer for the Goldwater Institute sent letters to school superintendents threatening a lawsuit if teachers did not return to work. The letter argued a strike was illegal and violated the state constitution, which requires that students be guaranteed an education.[32] The Goldwater Institute describes itself as a "free-market public policy research and litigation organization" whose mission is "advancing the principles of limited government, economic freedom, and individual liberty."[35]

May 1: Budget proposal hearings begin

  • Lawmakers began hearings on a 10-bill state budget proposal including a bill (HB 2663) that would increase teacher pay by 9 percent in fiscal year 2019 and begin payments to restore funding cuts since 2008. The increase in education funds would come from reductions in other areas of the budget, such as Medicaid, as well as from a $35 million increase in hospital assessment fees and an $18 million increase in local property taxes, primarily in Tucson and Phoenix.
The budget proposal under discussion includes $200 million more in school funding than Gov. Ducey's January budget proposal.
$273 million would be dedicated to a 9 percent pay raise for classroom teachers. Specialized teachers, such as reading specialists, would not be included.
$100 million would be allocated as part of a plan to restore $400 million in cuts since 2008. The funds would be used for repairs, textbooks, transportation, and support staff pay.[36][37]
  • Arizona Educators United and the Arizona Education Association said they would end the strike by May 3 if legislators passed a budget by then. Arizona Educators United organizer Rebecca Garelli said, "Our fight is not over. We have options, but it is time to get back to our students and back to our classrooms."[38]
  • Gov. Doug Ducey (R) released a letter to teachers, parents, and education leaders saying lawmakers were close to passing "a very significant budget investment into K-12 education" that he called responsible and sustainable. The letter said lawmakers had expedited the legislative process to send a budget bill to the governor's desk as soon as possible: "We are optimistic about this happening as early as Wednesday [May 2]."[39]

May 3: Ducey signs education budget bill, organizers call end to strike

  • Gov. Doug Ducey (R) signed HB 2663, an education budget bill that increases teacher pay by 20 percent by 2020. A press release from the governor's office said the bill when fully implemented represents a $1 billion increase in education spending, including:
    • $644.1 million for a 20 percent teacher pay raise by 2020.
      • $304.9 million for a 10 percent raise over fiscal years 2018 and 2019.
      • $164.7 million for a 5 percent raise in fiscal year 2020.
      • $174.5 million for a 5 percent raise in fiscal year 2021.
    • $371 million to restore recession-era cuts over five years. The funds are flexible and districts can use them for curriculum updates, technology, or increases to support staff salaries. $100 million was allocated for fiscal year 2019.
    • $1.8 million for career and technical education.
    • $10 million ($3 million in state dollars, $7 million from federal funds) for behavioral health specialists.
    • $53 million for infrastructure renewal.
    • $86 million over two years to build five new schools.[40]
  • Joe Thomas, president of the Arizona Education Association, said he believed the plan included "a lot of promises by the governor that are not going to come true" and that the governor ignored the needs of teachers who protested.[41] He initially said teachers would return to the classroom after the entire budget was passed, but Arizona Educators United and the Arizona Education Association called an end to the strike at the end of the day. Some school districts planned to open on May 4 while others decided to wait until the week of May 7.[42][43]


Kentucky

Kentucky public school teachers strike

See also:

On April 2, 2018, public school teachers walked off the job to protest legislation changing teacher pensions and to express concern about the state budget. More than 20 schools closed on Friday, March 30, 2018, as educators took sick days or asked for substitutes, and teachers continued to protest on Monday, April 2, 2018.[44] On April 13, the Republican-controlled Kentucky General Assembly voted to override Republican Gov. Matt Bevin's veto of a budget bill that increases per-student funding over previous levels.

Background

  • A 2017 publication from the Pew Charitable Trusts using 2015 data (the most recent available at the time) calculated that Kentucky had the second-lowest public pension funded ratio—the ratio of assets to liabilities—of the 50 states at 38 percent (New Jersey was the lowest at 37 percent).[45] Morningstar, an investment research company, considers a funded ratio below 70 percent to be fiscally unstable.[46]
  • The state budget proposal shifted public education funds from the state to local jurisdictions.[47] Teachers demanded more funding for textbooks and school programs.[48]
  • According to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy (KCEP), education funding shifted from state to local revenue sources between 1990 and 2016. Education funding from state sources decreased due to tax cuts and state budget reductions resulting from the 2007-2009 economic recession. State funding per-pupil, when adjusted for inflation, decreased 14 percent between 2008 and 2016, while local funding per-pupil increased 5 percent during the same period.[49][50]
  • Kentucky ranked 31st (out of 50 states plus Washington, D.C.) in the National Education Association's 2017 ranking for per-pupil expenditures, spending $10,508 per student. The national average was $11,642.[11]

March 30: Schools close in response to pension legislation

  • The legislation, Senate Bill 151, requires new teachers to enter a hybrid cash balance plan for retirement and includes a provision that contracts could be subject to change through legislative action at a later date.[52]

April 2: Teachers rally at the capitol

  • Teachers and public employees protested at the state capitol against Senate Bill 151 and the state budget.
  • Kentucky Education Association President Stephanie Winkler referred to the pension bill as a "bomb that exploded on public service."[48] At a press conference, Winkler said, "This is just one more dig at public education as a whole, and you're seeing that all across the nation, from West Virginia to Arizona."[1]
Rep. John Carney (R), also a teacher, supported the bill, saying, "This directly affects me. And that’s why I have chosen to take this stance today to try to help calm our educators and others to say this is necessary to solidify your future pension."[52]

April 4: Kentucky Chamber of Commerce supports pension bill

  • The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce released a letter to the editor in The Northern Kentucky Tribune in support of the pension legislation, saying they thought the legislation was a reasonable solution to problems with the state pension system. "This solution ensures the viability of the pension system for current and future public servants. We applaud the General Assembly for addressing the major concerns raised by our local governments, school systems and others in the County Employment Retirement System (CERS)."[53]

April 9: Gov. Bevin vetoes budget and tax bills

  • Bevin also vetoed a bill that would change the state tax code (HB 366) in its entirety. In his veto letter, Bevin said the bill had positive aspects but left "in place several extremely bad taxes that harm Kentucky's competitiveness" and added that it did not "address many inequities in the tax code that currently favor government over free enterprise."[55]
The Jefferson County teachers union called Bevin's veto of HB 366 "nothing short of reprehensible" and said it would harm Kentucky teachers. The union called on lawmakers to override Bevin's veto. It also encouraged teachers who were able to take personal days to protest at the state capitol on April 13.[56]
Bevin said a teacher strike would be irresponsible and illegal.[56]
  • In a press conference to announce the vetoes, Bevin blamed the Kentucky Education Association (KEA) for recent conflicts between educators and lawmakers, saying, "The issue isn't the teachers. ... The KEA has been a problem." He also said the KEA refused "to be a part of the solution."[56]
KEA President Stephanie Winkler responded that Bevin was insulting teachers and released a statement saying, "In dismissing those bills out of hand, Governor Bevin shows that he cares as little for legislators’ work as he cares for the work of Kentucky's other public employees."[56]

April 10: Gov. Bevin signs pension legislation

  • The Kentucky Education Association, who opposed the bill, called on members to rally at the state capitol on April 13. Gov. Bevin said of the call for action, "If we want to punish students by having their teachers walk out on them because they are instructed to do so by the KEA, the KEA doesn't know which side of this they're on."[57]

April 13: Teachers rally at the capitol, legislature overrides vetoes

  • More than 30 districts canceled class as teachers rallied at the state capitol to protest changes to the state pension system and a lack of education funding.[58] Parents and students joined with educators to protest.[59]
  • According to WAVE 3 News, teachers voiced concerns that the pension legislation would result in early retirements and would make Kentucky a less attractive state for new teachers.[59] Educators also demanded the legislature override a veto of a budget and a revenue bill which would have raised per-student education funding.[60]
  • The Republican-controlled Kentucky General Assembly voted to override Republican Gov. Matt Bevin's veto of a budget bill and a tax bill. The two-year budget increased funding for public education by raising the cigarette tax by 50 cents and the sales tax on certain services to 6 percent.[61]

April 14: Kentucky House rebukes governor for comments about children and sexual abuse

  • Gov. Bevin said on April 13:[58]
“ I guarantee you somewhere in Kentucky today a child was sexually assaulted that was left at home because there was nobody there to watch them. I guarantee you somewhere today a child was physically harmed or ingested poison because they were home alone because a single parent didn't have any money to take care of them. I'm offended by the idea that people so cavalierly and so flippantly disregarded what's truly best for children.[7] ”

April 15: Gov. Bevin apologizes for comments that children were sexually abused during strike

  • Gov. Matt Bevin (R) apologized for comments he made on April 13 suggesting that children were sexually abused, physically harmed, or poisoned because they were home alone instead of being in school: "I hurt a lot of people. Many people have been confused or hurt, or just misunderstand what I was trying to communicate. ... I apologize for those who have been hurt by the things that were said. It was not my intent."[58][63]

April 17: Teachers, Democrats reject Bevin's apology

  • Jefferson County Teachers Union Vice President Tammy Berlin told CNN that Gov. Matt Bevin's (R) apology for comments that children were sexually abused, physically harmed, or poisoned during the teacher strike was "a disingenuous apology. He didn't really apologize for what he said. He just apologized for how people construed it which is not really an apology at all."[64]
  • Kelsey Hayes Coots, a teacher in Jefferson County Public Schools, said in a video published by WAVE News that she found the comments disturbing and did not accept the governor's apology.[64]
  • Kentucky House Democratic Leader Rocky Adkins said Bevin's video apology "shows he still does not comprehend why so many were understandably upset."[64]

North Carolina

North Carolina public school teachers strike

See also:

North Carolina teachers marched on the capitol in what they called an advocacy day. The North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) announced in April that the advocacy day was planned for May 16, the same day the General Assembly of North Carolina reconvened.[66][67] The Huffington Post reported that the strike was believed to be the largest teacher protest in state history.[68]

Background

  • North Carolina ranked 41st (out of 50 states plus Washington, D.C.) in the National Education Association's (NEA) 2017 ranking for per-pupil expenditures, spending $9,329 per student. The national average was $11,642.[11]
  • The NEA also ranked North Carolina's average teacher salary of $49,970 in 2017 as 39th out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. The national teacher salary average for 2017 was $59,660.[11]
  • North Carolina had 1,524,309 students enrolled in public schools (including charter schools) across 115 total school districts as of the first month of the 2017-2018 school year.[69]

April 25: North Carolina Association of Educators announces advocacy day

  • In a statement, the NCAE said, "Educators from all over the state are converging here in Raleigh for the opening of the General Assembly to let them know our students deserve more, and we demand respect. Educators and their supporters are taking action, all over the country, it’s our turn now."[67] NCAE President Mark Jewell told Policy Watch that the protest would focus on funding for teacher pay, textbooks, and classroom resources as well as greater investment in public education.[70]

May 7: Largest school districts plan to shut down

  • At least 13 school districts, including the largest in the state, announced that they planned to shut down on May 16 due to a scheduled teacher rally for more education funding and improved working conditions. In some cities, May 16 was classified as an optional work day for educators, according to The Business Journals.[71][72]
  • Wake County School Board Chairwoman Monika Johnson-Hostler wrote in a letter to parents that educators were aware the closures were disruptive and asked for support: "The voices of our teachers need to be heard. Year after year our teachers are asked to do more with less. I ask that you support them in their decision to highlight the needs of their profession and your children."[72]

May 16: Teachers participate in advocacy day

  • At least 40 school districts across North Carolina, including the state's largest, closed as an estimated 20,000 North Carolina teachers participated in what they called an advocacy day.[5][73] According to ABC News, nearly one million students were not in school as a result.[74]
According to New York Magazine, the districts that canceled class were located in urban and suburban counties and school districts in rural counties stayed open.[75]
  • Teachers called for increased education funding, particularly demanding increased per-pupil funding and a $10,000 pay raise over four years.[5][74]
  • The state teachers' union, the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), said the advocacy day was "the beginning of a six-month stretch of time to hold our legislators accountable for prioritizing corporate tax cuts, instead of our classrooms. The ultimate goal is electing more pro-public education leaders in North Carolina to return our state back to a beacon for public schools."[76]
  • They also announced specific legislative goals:
“
  • Per-Pupil Spending to the National Average in Four Years
  • A Multi-Year Professional Compensation and Benefits Plan for ALL Educators that includes:
    • Ending Experienced Educator Pay Discrimination
    • Average Teacher Pay to National Average in Four Years
    • Significant and Livable Raises for ALL Public School Employees
    • Restoring Advanced Degree Pay
    • Restoring Longevity Pay
    • Annual Cost-of-Living Increase
    • Enhanced and Protected Health Insurance and Pension
    • Ending Pay for Performance Based on Test Scores, Including for Administrators
    • Reinstating Career Status
    • Real Dedicated Planning Time and Lunch Time
  • Investing in the Health and Well-Being of our Students and Making Schools Safer including:
    • At least 500 additional school nurses, social workers, and counselors this year
    • Improve health options for our most vulnerable students by expanding Medicaid
  • Fix Our Crumbling Schools and Large Class Sizes With a $1.9 Billion Statewide School Construction Bond
  • No Corporate Tax Cuts Until Per-Pupil Spending and Teacher Pay Reach the National Average[7]
 ”
  • State legislators and the governor respond to strike.
  • Rep. Mark Brody (R) wrote in a Facebook post, "Teaching our children that it is OK to not show up for work does not set a good example." He also referred to the teachers' union as "thugs."
  • Rep. Chaz Beasley (D) said, "Doing more is not the same as doing enough and clearly our teachers are telling us we are not doing enough. I think we need to listen to them. I think rather than being defensive about the fact that they are here, we need to be on the offense and doing everything we can for our kids and teachers."[77]
  • Rep. Jeffrey Elmore (R), chair of the House K-12 Education Committee and an elementary school art teacher, said, "You are coming off 2008 with the biggest recession since the great depression and as you know the government revenues lag a year behind with the economic growth and we do have ground to gain and we do have goals and we are working towards those goals."[77]
  • Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R) said, "We have no intention of raising taxes." He added that the day should focus on "the fact that a million kids are not going to be in school because a political organization" wanted teachers to rally at the capitol.[78]
  • Gov. Roy Cooper (D) proposed raising teacher pay by an average of 8 percent and by up to 14.8 percent for teachers with at least 25 years of experience.[74] He spoke at a rally before teachers and encouraged them to vote Republicans out of office.[79]

Oklahoma

Oklahoma public school teachers strike

See also:

Schools closed across the state as teachers went on strike—the first since 1990—on April 2, 2018, to protest a lack of education funding. The strike occurred four days after Republican Gov. Mary Fallin signed a tax increase bill that would raise teacher pay. It lasted for nine days, ending on April 12, 2018, when the Oklahoma Education Association declared the end of the strike after a week in which there was no legislative response to educator demands.[80]

Background

  • The National Education Association (NEA) ranked the average salary for Oklahoma teachers ($45,292) in 2017 as one of the lowest (50th) out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Teacher salaries were lower in Mississippi. The national average for teacher salaries in 2017 was $59,660.[11]
  • The NEA also ranked Oklahoma among the states with the lowest per-student spending (ranked 45th) in 2017, at $8,249. The national average for per-pupil expenditures in 2017 was $11,642.[11]
  • According to The Oklahoman, education funding when adjusted for inflation decreased 28 percent per student between 2008 and 2018, and student enrollment increased 8 percent.[81]
  • Oklahoma school funding is linked to the state budget and was impacted by the decline in oil and natural gas prices, a major tax revenue source for the state.[1]
  • Tax increases require a three-fourths majority in the state.[1]
  • Voters rejected a ballot initiative in 2016 to increase teacher salaries by $5,000 through a 1 percentage point increase in the sales tax. The measure failed 59.4 percent to 40.6 percent.
  • The last teacher strike occurred in 1990 and the state legislature responded by passing a bill that, among other things, increased taxes to pay for raises. An attempt to repeal the bill through an initiated constitutional amendment failed in October 1991. However, in March 1992 voters passed State Question 640, which required voter approval for tax increases unless three-fourths (75 percent) of each legislative chamber voted for the increases. After this, no tax increases were approved until 2017.[82]

March 8: Oklahoma Education Association demands funding, threatens strike

  • The Oklahoma Education Association threatened to strike beginning April 2 if lawmakers did not approve $800 million in education funding, including a $10,000 teacher pay raise and a $5,000 school support staff pay raise, before then. OEA President Alicia Priest said raises could be funded over the course of three years, beginning with a $6,000 raise for the next fiscal year. The association also demanded $200 million in public school funding. According to The Oklahoman, the OEA suggested increasing the gross production tax, income tax, and cigarette tax, as possibilities for funding their demands.[83]
  • House Speaker Charles McCall (R) issued a statement before the OEA's press conference in which he said the Republican caucus supported raising revenue to increase teacher pay but had no help from Democrats.[83]

March 14: Lawmakers pass pay raise but fail to approve funds

  • On March 14 lawmakers approved a bill to raise teacher pay by 12.7 percent but failed to pass a measure that would have funded the raise. Lawmakers were two votes short of the required three-fourths majority.
  • According to the Oklahoma Education Association, the bill would have given teachers a $5,000 raise and state employees a $2,500 raise.[84]

March 28: Teacher pay raise clears legislature

  • A bill to raise teacher pay by 16 percent, about $6,000, cleared the state legislature on March 28. The bill proposed raising taxes on gasoline and diesel, cigarettes, hotels, and oil and natural gas production.[85]
  • The Oklahoma Education Association continued to encourage a strike, tweeting, "April 2 is still on. Our ask is still our ask. The House is considering a number of bills tonight that could be a step in the right direction. We’re still asking for a complete package, including funding for years 2 and 3."[86]

March 29: Gov. Fallin signs pay raise into law

  • Gov. Fallin signed a package of bills intended to raise $450 million in revenue towards increasing teacher pay and providing additional education funding. It was the state's first tax increase in 25 years.[87]
  • The Oklahoma Education Association released a statement calling for educators to strike on April 2: "The goal of Oklahoma educators has always been to avoid a walk out, because lawmakers continue breaking promises, even promises made less than 24 hours ago, we call on schools to remain closed on Monday so educators can send a clear message at the Capitol: Oklahoma educators won’t stand for these games any longer."[88]

April 2: Teachers walk out

  • Schools closed across the state as teachers went on strike for the first time in 30 years to protest a lack of education funding. About 200 of the state's 512 school districts closed.[89]
  • The Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) continued to call for a $10,000 pay raise over three years, a $5,000 raise for school support staff and state employees, and $200 million in additional education funding.[89]
  • Ellen Kraft, a teacher at Truman Primary in Norman, Oklahoma, told Oklahoma News 4: "You can’t cut 28%, and then fill it with half of that and call it a day. There’s more work to be done than that."[90]
  • Gov. Mary Fallin (R) issued a statement saying, "I appreciate teachers coming to the Capitol today to talk with their elected officials. ... Just like Oklahoma families, we are only able to do what our budget allows. Significant revenue-raising measures were approved to make this pay raise and additional school funding possible. We must be responsible not to neglect other areas of need in the state such as corrections and health and human services as we continue to consider additional education funding measures. I look forward to continuing to talk with legislative leaders and teachers as we forge a positive pathway forward for education."[91]
  • OEA President Alicia Priest said before the strike, "Teachers are so drastically underpaid they are forced to donate plasma, work multiple jobs and go to food pantries to provide for their families. Oklahoma is better than this."[1]

April 3: State's 10 largest districts remain closed

  • Oklahoma's 10 largest school districts remained closed on April 3.[92] Teachers, parents and students statewide protested declining education funding.[1]
  • The Oklahoma City Public Schools system, the largest school district in the state, announced that classes were cancelled for April 4: "Classes are cancelled again tomorrow, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. We are hopeful that our legislators will continue working this afternoon toward a solution, but we wanted to make this decision as early as possible to give our families adequate time to plan."[93]
  • Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb (R), a candidate in the 2018 gubernatorial election, said that a minimum of 65 percent of education funding should be allocated for teacher pay, textbooks, technology, and in-classroom infrastructure.[94]
  • Rep. Kevin McDugle (R) posted a Facebook video which he later removed saying that he disagreed with teachers' behavior and would not vote for another education funding measure "when they’re acting the way they’re acting." He continued, "I understand the frustration, but this is not the way to go about it. You’re losing support of people who supported you all year long."[95]
McDugle later released a second video apologizing for the way the first video came across and saying, "I have voted for teachers. I will continue to vote for teachers." He reiterated his belief that teachers were losing public support because of the strike.[96]
Cyndi Ralston, a school teacher with Haskell Public Schools, announced on Facebook that she would be running as a Democratic against McDugle for the Oklahoma House of Representatives District 12 seat. She said that McDugle "disrespected and denigrated teachers and administrators who have come to the capitol to protest the legislature’s wholly inadequate support for education," and continued, "Republican members of the legislature have made it crystal clear that they do not believe they work for us, that our concerns do not matter."[97]

April 4: State House approves education tax bill

  • Teachers from the state's largest school districts continued to strike on April 4. They demanded revenue-raising legislation that would eliminate the capital gains income tax deduction and expand tribal gaming. The measures, which face Republican opposition, would bring in about $120 million and $20 million, respectively.[98]
  • The Oklahoma House of Representatives approved legislation that would raise a projected $20 million for education by requiring third-party sellers on the internet to pay state sales taxes.[99]
    • Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) President Alicia Priest said the bill "is a win for students and educators and signals major progress toward funding the schools our students deserve."[99]
    • Rep. Scott Inman (D) said teachers shouldn't be satisfied with the legislation: ""You're here for more than a $20 million band aid. You're here for the kids and you're here for fixing the systemic problems facing the budget and education funding in this state."[100]

April 5: Education Secretary Betsy DeVos responds to strike

  • U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos reportedly said teachers should think about the students: "I think we need to stay focused on what’s right for kids. And I hope that adults would keep adult disagreements and disputes in a separate place, and serve the students that are there to be served."[101]
  • Former U.S. Secretary of Education John King responded to Devos' comment: "We have to be careful not to draw a false distinction between adult issues and student issues. If teachers can't be compensated to the level where they can afford to live and teach in this state, that's not just an adult issue, that's a student issue. If schools don't have adequate resources to provide textbooks, that's not an adult issue, that's a student issue."[102]

April 6: Senate sends education funding bill to governor

  • The Oklahoma State Senate rarely convenes on Fridays but senators were in session April 6 to consider three revenue-raising bills that could provide more education funding.[103]
  • The Senate approved the following bills:
    • HB 1019xx requires internet vendors like Amazon to pay state sales taxes. Senators projected the bill would raise $20 million. They approved the bill 42 to 2.
    • HB 1012xx repeals the $5-per-night hotel tax provision of the revenue package signed by Gov. Mary Fallin (R) on March 29 that funded part of the teacher pay raise. A press release from the state Senate said that funds from the internet sales tax bill would make up for any funds lost by repealing the hotel tax.[104] The Senate approved the measure 42 to 3.
    • HB 3375 allows casinos in the state to offer ball and dice games and sports betting pools. The measure was expected to raise $24 million. It passed the Senate in a 29-16 vote.[105]
  • Responses to Senate action.
    • Oklahoma Education Association President Alicia Priest called on Republican Gov. Mary Fallin to veto HB 1012xx. She also encouraged lawmakers to vote on a bill removing capital gains exemptions.[106]
    • Senate Majority Leader Greg Treat (R) said the OEA's demands were unclear: "They wanted the Amazon they wanted ball and dice what did you see on our floor, you saw Amazon and ball and dice. I'm not sure what their next set of demands will be."[107]
  • The state's largest districts remained closed.[108]

April 9: Teachers rally at the state capitol, starting second week of strike

  • Teachers rallied at the state capitol in what was reportedly the biggest assembly since the beginning of the protests.[109]
  • Teachers asked the legislature to repeal the capital gains tax exemption and re-implement a $5-per-night hotel tax that lawmakers repealed on April 6. The two measures together would raise a projected $150 million.[109]
  • According to Reuters, schools serving 500,000 of the state's 700,000 public school students were closed.[109]

April 10: Gov. Fallin signs education funding bills

  • Gov. Mary Fallin (R) signed two bills to help raise revenue earmarked for education. She also signed a third bill repealing a provision of the revenue package raising teacher pay that she signed in March.
    • HB 1019xx requires third-party online retailers to pay sales taxes to the state. A press release from the governor projected the legislation would bring in $20.5 million for public schools.[110]
    • HB 3375 allows tribal casinos to use traditional roulette and dice games, which were prohibited in 2004. HB 3375 requires casinos to pay 10 percent of the monthly net proceeds from the games to the state.[110] Revenue expected from the bill was estimated at $24 million.[105]
    • HB 1012xx repeals a $5-per-night tax on hotel and motel rooms. Oklahoma Education Association President Alicia Priest called on Fallin to veto HB 1012xx, but Fallin said that the original revenue package containing the $5 hotel tax provision and funding the teacher pay raise would not have passed without an agreement to repeal the hotel tax.[106][110]
  • The Oklahoma Education Association responded that Fallin and the legislature were not doing enough for public education.
  • Republican Rep. John Pfeiffer said, "As far as this year, we’ve accomplished a whole lot, and I just don’t know how much more we can get done this session."[111]
  • Multiple school districts were closed.[112]

April 12: Oklahoma Education Association declares end of strike

  • Oklahoma Education Association President Alicia Priest announced the end of the teacher strike. She applauded educators for securing $479 million in education funding in a matter of weeks and encouraged teachers to focus on elections: "Instead of making our case at the steps of the Capitol, we have the opportunity to make our voices heard at the ballot box."[80]
  • Priest voiced disappointment in Senate Republicans, whom she said refused to provide more education funding. "They say they don't believe Oklahoma students need more funding. They're wrong," she said.[80]
  • Democratic Rep. Emily Virgin tweeted about the strike ending:
  • A statement from Gov. Mary Fallin's (R) office said she appreciated teachers and was glad they were returning to class.[113] The statement also said,
“ I am very proud that Republican lawmakers have led the way on increasing educational expenditures for Oklahoma’s students this session. In addition, they have protected Oklahomans, especially small businesses and farmers, from an irresponsible capital gains tax.[7] ”
  • Teachers demanded that lawmakers repeal the capital gains tax exemption to raise revenue for education funding.[114]
  • Schools in districts such as Moore and Shawnee returned to school. Teachers in Moore, however, responded to the superintendent's order to return with disappointment.
    • The Oklahoman reported that Diane Milam, a chemistry teacher at Southmoore High School, said, "I'm really disappointed that this wasn't communicated better to our teachers. I know that this was a big decision and that he truly cares for every student in our district, but the teachers feel like they had the rug pulled out from under them."[115]


West Virginia

West Virginia public school teachers strike

See also:

On February 22, 2018, about 20,000 teachers and 13,000 staff in the state's 55 counties went on strike, causing schools to close for nine days.[116] Educators were demanding higher pay and better benefits. The strike ended on March 6 when Gov. Jim Justice (R) signed a 5 percent pay raise into law.

Background

  • The National Education Association ranked the average salary for West Virginia teachers ($45,555) in 2017 as one of the lowest (49th) out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Teacher salaries were lower in Oklahoma and Mississippi (ranked 50th and 51st, respectively).[11]
  • It was the second teacher strike in state history (the first took place in 1990 and lasted 11 days) and was the first to include school service personnel.[116][117]

February 17: School teachers and staff plan statewide strike

  • On February 17, union leaders announced a statewide strike of school teachers and service personnel.[118]
  • In a statement before the strike, West Virginia Superintendent Steven L. Paine said he was working to resolve the conflict and that "work stoppages by public employees are not lawful in West Virginia and will have a negative impact on student instruction and classroom time."[119]

February 21: Gov. Justice signs 2 percent pay raise

  • Republican Gov. Jim Justice signed legislation granting teachers a 2 percent pay raise effective July 2018, followed by a 1 percent pay raise over the next two years.
  • Christine Campbell, president of the American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia, told CNN that the bill did not address concerns about the teachers' public employees insurance program, rising healthcare costs, and payroll tax deduction options.[116]

February 27-28: 5 percent pay raise proposed

  • On February 27, Gov. Jim Justice (R) proposed increasing the already-passed 2 percent teacher pay raise to 5 percent. The governor suggested funding for the increase could come from $58 million in extra revenue expected from measures such as the federal tax cut.
  • Senate legislative leaders expressed doubt about the availability of additional revenue. Senate Majority Leader Ryan Ferns (R) said of the governor's proposal, "I'm unsure as to why the governor has decided to make that sort of an announcement without fully vetting the financial implications, as well as having the Legislature weigh in on it."[117]
  • February 28 marked the deadline for the state Legislature to pass a bill out of its chamber of origin, with the exception of budget or supplemental appropriation bills. The House of Delegates suspended constitutional rules and immediately voted on House Bill 4145, which would raise teacher and state employee salaries by 5 percent. The bill passed 98 to 1 and was sent to the state Senate.
  • Responding to HB 4145's passage, Senate President Mitch Carmichael (R) said, "I'm disappointed that there wasn't a more thoughtful analysis placed around it."[120]
  • The Senate did not immediately take up the bill. According to The West Virginia Gazette-Mail, the Senate version of HB 4145 would allocate the revenue surplus the governor identified towards the Public Employee Insurance Agency (PEIA), a state insurance plan in poor fiscal health, according to CNN, instead of teacher pay.[121][122]

March 1: Teacher strike, expected to end, continues

  • Public schools in West Virginia remained closed on March 1, despite anticipation that they would reopen after Gov. Jim Justice (R) proposed a 5 percent pay raise for school employees.[117]
  • The strike continued due to issues with the PEIA.[122]
The governor issued an executive order on February 28 creating a special task force "to address and explore all avenues that will lead to a permanent fix for PEIA." He also placed a 16-month moratorium on the agency.[123]
  • In a press conference, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) said his office was prepared to take legal action against teachers should any agency, such as the West Virginia Superintendent of Schools or the state Board of Education, request it.[124]

March 3-5: Strike continues while legislators disagree on pay raise

  • In the evening of March 3, the West Virginia State Senate approved a version of House Bill (HB) 4145 that would increase teacher pay by 4 percent, rather than the 5 percent initially passed by the state House on February 28. The House refused to concur with this version of the bill, requiring the legislature to form a joint conference committee to address the differences.[125][126]
  • The American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia, the West Virginia Education Association, and the School Service Personnel Association said in a joint statement that "our agreement was for a 5% salary increase for education employees - period!" and that schools would "remain closed until the Senate honors the agreement that was made."[127]
  • Schools were closed Monday, March 5.

March 6: strike ends, pay raise becomes law

  • The teacher strike ended on March 6 when Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican, signed a 5 percent teacher pay raise into law—the first increase in four years, according to The New York Times. The West Virginia State Legislature unanimously approved the bill earlier that day. The governor's signature ended the strike that began on February 22.
  • Disagreement remained on the source of funding for the raise. Republican senators maintained the pay increase would be funded by reductions to programs such as Medicaid.
Senate Finance Chair Craig Blair (R) said the 5 percent increase was the largest pay raise in state history. He also said the raise would be funded by a $20 million reduction in general services and Medicaid spending.[128]
Gov. Justice (R) disagreed, saying, "We have cash in the balances in Medicaid that will absolutely backstop any cuts whatsoever from Medicaid."[129]
  • Rising health costs related to the Public Employees Insurance Agency were another point of contention during the strike. Gov. Justice called for a 27-member panel made up of union representatives, legislators, public employees, and at-large members, to address the issue. The governor's executive order tasked the panel with studying and analyzing the state insurance plan and submitting a final report and recommendations by December, 2018.[130]
  • After legislators announced they had reached a 5-percent pay raise deal, American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia President Christine Campbell told CNN she expected teachers to be back in the classroom on Wednesday, March 7.[128]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Governing, "Teachers Strike in Oklahoma and Protest in Kentucky," April 3, 2018
  2. ↑ WOWKTV.com, "The difference between a walkout and strike," February 20, 2018
  3. ↑ AZ Central, "What's the difference between a walkout and a strike? For Arizona teachers, it matters," April 20, 2018
  4. ↑ Tucson News Now, "Strike vs. walkout: Tucson attorney weighs in," May 1, 2018
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Mic.com, "As North Carolina’s legislature prepares to reconvene, teachers plan to walk out," May 14, 2018
  6. ↑ Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's): What is a strike?" accessed May 11, 2018
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Hill, "Arizona teachers begin voting on whether to strike," April 18, 2018
  9. ↑ Twitter, "Arizona Teachers United," accessed April 20, 2018
  10. ↑ AZ Central, "Here's why Arizona teachers are walking in – not out for now – in #RedForEd movement," April 4, 2018
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 The National Education Association, "Rankings of the States 2017 and Estimates of School Statistics 2018," April 2018 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "NEA" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "NEA" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "NEA" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "NEA" defined multiple times with different content
  12. ↑ U.S. News & World Report, "Arizona Unites to Care For, Feed Kids During Teacher Strike," April 25, 2018
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Office of the Governor Doug Ducey, "Governor Doug Ducey Announces Teacher Pay Increase," April 12, 2018
  14. ↑ NPR, "Arizona Governor Agrees To 20 Percent Raise For Protesting Teachers," April 12, 2018
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Tucson.com, "Gov. Ducey proposes 9 percent pay raise for Arizona teachers next school year," April 12, 2018
  16. ↑ WTRF.com, "Arizona House moves to hike teacher pay amid protests," April 12, 2018
  17. ↑ AZfamily.com, "Arizona teachers vote to walk out on Thursday, April 26 over education funding," April 20, 2018
  18. ↑ The Daily Sentinel, "The Latest: Governor vetoes 10 bills, wants teacher pay hike," April 20, 2018
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 AZ Central, "In power play, Ducey vetoes House bills and calls for passage of his teacher pay plan," April 20, 2018
  20. ↑ The Arizona Republic, "Republican lawmaker pitches $1 billion tax hike to prevent Arizona teacher walkout," April 24, 2018
  21. ↑ WTOP, "The Latest: Arizona teachers press for action by lawmakers," April 25, 2018
  22. ↑ AZFamily.com, "'This fight is for your child': Education leaders speak the evening before walkout," April 26, 2018
  23. ↑ KTAR News, "State senator: Arizona teacher leaders are playing politics," April 25, 2018
  24. ↑ Kentucky New Era, "Arizona, Colorado teachers rally, schools close for 2nd day," April 27, 2018
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Time, "Arizona and Colorado Join Teacher Strikes as Thousands Prepare to March for More Pay," April 25, 2018
  26. ↑ Education Week, "Teacher Strike Momentum Continues: Arizona and Colorado Educators Walking Out," April 25, 2018
  27. ↑ AZ Central, "#RedForEd walkout school closures will impact 840,000 Arizona students," April 24, 2018
  28. ↑ The Guardian, "Arizona teachers begin strike as wave of education walkouts rolls west," April 26, 2018
  29. ↑ Office of the Governor Doug Ducey, "Statement From Governor Ducey," April 26, 2018
  30. ↑ The Washington Post, "The Latest: Arizona House leaders make deal on teacher raise," April 26, 2018
  31. ↑ Office of the Governor Doug Ducey, "FY19 BUDGET Governor Ducey, President Yarbrough and Speaker Mesnard Announce a Budget Agreement on K-12 Funding That Includes 20% Pay Raise for Teachers by 2020," April 27, 2018
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 Bristol Herald Courier, "The Latest: Arizona teacher groups don't trust budget deal," April 27, 2018
  33. ↑ Twitter, "Arizona Education Association on April 27, 2018," accessed April 30, 2018
  34. ↑ Arizona Daily Sun, "Arizona teachers say strike still on despite budget deal," April 30, 2018
  35. ↑ Goldwater Institute, "About," accessed April 30, 2018
  36. ↑ KTAR News, "Here are details of Arizona Legislature’s plan to fund education," May 1, 2018
  37. ↑ Arizona Education News, "Legislators continue to work on budget, including teacher pay and school safety plans," May 1, 2018
  38. ↑ Arizona Capitol Times, "Teachers end short-lived strike," May 1, 2018
  39. ↑ Office of the Governor Doug Ducey, "Letter to Arizona teachers, parents and education leaders," accessed May 2, 2018
  40. ↑ Office of the Governor Doug Ducey, "Governor Ducey Signs 20 Percent Increase In Teacher Pay," May 3, 2018
  41. ↑ 12 News, "Ducey signs education budget bill on day six of teacher walkout," May 3, 2018
  42. ↑ AZfamily.com, "Arizona Gov. Ducey signs education funding and teacher pay bill," May 3, 2018
  43. ↑ Muskogee Phoenix, "Striking Arizona teachers win 20 percent raise, end walkout," May 3, 2018
  44. ↑ KTLA, "Inspired by West Virginia Strike, Teachers in Oklahoma and Kentucky Plan Walk Out," April 2, 2018
  45. ↑ Pew Charitable Trusts, "Measuring the Fiscal Health of State Pension Plans," July 19, 2017
  46. ↑ Governing.com State Pension Plans: Liabilities, Funded Ratios," accessed February 29, 2014
  47. ↑ New York Magazine, "Teachers Go on Strike in Two More Red States," April 2, 2018
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 CNN, "Kentucky and Oklahoma teachers flood state capitals -- and refuse to back down," April 2, 2018
  49. ↑ Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, "The Funding Gap Between Kentucky’s Poor and Wealthy School Districts Continues to Grow," December 13, 2017
  50. ↑ The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy is part of the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development, an organization that "seeks to create economic alternatives that work for people and places in eastern Kentucky and Central Appalachia." Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, "About Us," accessed April 5, 2018
  51. ↑ Courier Journal, "Kentucky teachers shut down schools in protest over the pension bill. Here's what we know," March 30, 2018
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 The State Journal, "Quickly resurrected pension bill clears legislature," March 29, 2018
  53. ↑ The Northern Kentucky Tribune, "Letter to Editor: NKy Chamber commends state legislature for ‘difficult steps’ on pensions, tax code," April 4, 2018
  54. ↑ Kentucky Legislature, "Veto message from the governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky regarding House Bill 200 of the 2018 regular session," April 9, 2018
  55. ↑ Kentucky Legislature, "Veto message from the governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky regarding House Bill 366 of the 2018 regular session," April 9, 2018
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 56.2 56.3 Courier Journal, "Matt Bevin warns Kentucky teachers against a walkout: 'That would be a mistake,'" April 9, 2018
  57. ↑ CNN, "Kentucky governor signs controversial pension bill as teachers call for rally," April 11, 2018
  58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 58.2 U.S. News & World Report, "Kentucky Teachers to Renew Rallying Friday as Lawmakers Meet," April 13, 2018
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 Wave 3 News, "More protests show fight between educators, state legislature is far from over," April 13, 2018
  60. ↑ Oklahoma's News 4, "Showdowns over school funding continue in 3 states," April 12, 2018
  61. ↑ U.S. News & World Report, "Teacher Victory: Kentucky Lawmakers Override Budget Veto," April 13, 2018
  62. ↑ U.S. News & World Report, "The Latest: House Condemns Gov. Bevin Over Comments," April 14, 2018
  63. ↑ The Washington Post, "Kentucky governor apologizes for comments suggesting kids were sexually assaulted while teachers protested," April 15, 2018
  64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 64.2 KEYT, "Teachers, Democrats reject Kentucky gov's apology over sexual assault remarks," April 17, 2018
  65. ↑ Facebook, "Alison Lundergan Grimes on April 14, 2018," accessed April 18, 2018
  66. ↑ Facebook, "North Carolina Association of Educators on April 27, 2018," accessed May 1, 2018
  67. ↑ 67.0 67.1 Pay Day Report, "North Carolina Teachers to Strike in May – Louisiana Teachers Could Follow – Georgia Bus Drivers Fired for Striking," April 30, 2018
  68. ↑ The Huffington Post, "North Carolina Teachers Just Closed Schools With A Massive Protest," May 16, 2018
  69. ↑ Sara Reynolds, "Email correspondence with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction," May 16, 2018
  70. ↑ The Progressive Pulse, "As teachers strike across the U.S., North Carolina teachers plan advocacy day in May," April 2, 2018
  71. ↑ WTOP, "North Carolina school districts closing for teacher protest," May 7, 2018
  72. ↑ 72.0 72.1 72.2 The Business Journals, "Another state's teachers plan walkout," May 9, 2018
  73. ↑ U.S. News & World Report, "North Carolina Teachers Walk Out," May 16, 2018
  74. ↑ 74.0 74.1 74.2 ABC News, "More than 1 million students to miss school as teacher revolt sweeping nation heads to new state," May 15, 2018
  75. ↑ New York Magazine, "North Carolina Teachers March for More Education Funding," May 16, 2018
  76. ↑ North Carolina Association of Educators, "Educators Announce “Respect Public Education” Priorities in Advance of the March for Students and Rally in Raleigh," accessed May 16, 2018
  77. ↑ 77.0 77.1 WBTV, "NC lawmakers react to teacher rally," May 17, 2018
  78. ↑ Time, "North Carolina Teachers March on State Capital in Mass School Walkout," May 16, 2018
  79. ↑ The Times-News, "The Latest: Gov. Cooper speaks to thousands at rally," May 16, 2018
  80. ↑ 80.0 80.1 80.2 KTUL, "OEA ends teacher walkout after 9 days, shifts focus to November elections," April 12, 2018
  81. ↑ The Oklahoman, "Your guide to the Oklahoma teacher walkout," April 1, 2018
  82. ↑ Brookings, "Not just a ‘red-state revolt’: The story behind the Oklahoma teacher walkout," April 12, 2018
  83. ↑ 83.0 83.1 The Oklahoman, "OEA demands pay raise for teachers and school staff," March 8, 2018
  84. ↑ Facebook, "Oklahoma Education Association on March 15, 2018," accessed March 15, 2018
  85. ↑ The Shawnee News-Star, "Potential teacher strike: Deal reached on teacher pay hike, goes to Fallin," March 28, 2018
  86. ↑ News9.com, "State House Passes Deal, But Likely Won't Stop April 2 Walkout," March 26, 2017
  87. ↑ KFOR, "House passes bill to fund teacher, state employee pay raises," March 26, 2018
  88. ↑ Facebook, "Oklahoma Education Association," March 29, 2018
  89. ↑ 89.0 89.1 PBS, "What you need to know about the Oklahoma teacher walkout," April 2, 2018
  90. ↑ Fortune, "What You Need to Know about Teachers on Strike in 2018," April 3, 2018
  91. ↑ Governor Mary Fallin, "Governor Mary Fallin Statement on Oklahoma Teacher Rally," April 2, 2018
  92. ↑ AZcentral.com, "Teacher walkouts to close all 10 of Oklahoma's largest school districts Tuesday," April 2, 2018
  93. ↑ The Hill, "Oklahoma schools to close for third day due to teachers' strike," April 3, 2018
  94. ↑ Fox News Insider, "Oklahoma Teacher Strike: Lt. Gov. Calls for Minimum Requirement for Classroom Funding," April 3, 2018
  95. ↑ Tulsa World, "'Go ahead, be pissed at me': Oklahoma lawmaker walks back vow not to vote for education," April 4, 2018
  96. ↑ Koco News 5, "Oklahoma lawmaker's video in response to teacher walkout stirs controversy," April 3, 2018
  97. ↑ Facebook, "Cyndi Ralston for Oklahoma House District 12 on April 3, 2018," accessed April 5, 2018
  98. ↑ Kentucky New Era, "As Oklahoma teachers strike drags on, frustration mounts," April 4, 2018
  99. ↑ 99.0 99.1 Reuters, "Oklahoma House approves education tax bill amid teacher walkout," April 4, 2018
  100. ↑ NewsOn6.com, "State Senate Expected To Vote Thursday On Education Funding Measure," April 5, 2018
  101. ↑ The Washington Post, "Betsy DeVos to Oklahoma teachers: 'Serve the students,'" April 9, 2018
  102. ↑ The Oklahoman, "Past and present ed secretaries comment on walkout," April 9, 2018
  103. ↑ KTUU, "Teacher protests: Oklahoma lawmakers planning rare Friday sessions," April 5, 2018
  104. ↑ Oklahoma Senate, "Oklahoma Senate to take up revenue measures Friday," April 5, 2018
  105. ↑ 105.0 105.1 Non Doc, "Senate sends 'ball and dice,' Amazon bills to governor," April 6, 2018
  106. ↑ 106.0 106.1 Tulsa World, "Update: OEA calls for veto of hotel/motel tax repeal, vote on capital gains tax exemption," April 7, 2018
  107. ↑ NewsOn6.com, "State Senator Responds To OEA Demands," April 8, 2018
  108. ↑ NPR, "Oklahoma's Teachers Continue Walkout As Lawmakers Vote On Giving Them More Money," April 5, 2018
  109. ↑ 109.0 109.1 109.2 Reuters, "Oklahoma teachers press lawmakers for tax plan to end strike," April 9, 2018
  110. ↑ 110.0 110.1 110.2 Governor Mary Fallin, "Gov. Fallin Signs Legislation Repealing Hotel/Motel Tax," April 10, 2018
  111. ↑ Reuters, "Striking Oklahoma teachers push for more funds, Republicans say done," April 11, 2018
  112. ↑ Oklahoma News 4, "List of Oklahoma school districts closed Wednesday, for 8th day of teacher walkout," April 10, 2018
  113. ↑ Governor Mary Fallin, "Gov. Fallin Statement on End of Nine-Day Public School Teacher Walkout," April 12, 2018
  114. ↑ The New York Times, "Oklahoma Teachers End Walkout After Winning Raises and Additional Funding," April 12, 2018
  115. ↑ The Oklahoman, "Morning Bell: Walkout continues, but some return to class," April 12, 2018
  116. ↑ 116.0 116.1 116.2 CNN, "West Virginia teacher strike set to continue Tuesday," February 26, 2018
  117. ↑ 117.0 117.1 117.2 Governing, "West Virginia Teachers Strike Scheduled to End With 5% Raises," February 28, 2018
  118. ↑ Charleston Gazette-Mail, "Statewide walkout announced for school teachers, employees on Thursday and Friday," February 17, 2018
  119. ↑ West Virginia Department of Education, "State Superintendent Issues Statement on Work Stoppage," February 20, 2018
  120. ↑ NPR, "W.Va. Teacher Walkouts, School Closures Continue Despite Governor's Deal With Unions," February 28, 2018
  121. ↑ West Virginia Gazette-Mail, "WV Senate considers putting pay raise toward PEIA as teacher strike continues," March 1, 2018
  122. ↑ 122.0 122.1 CNN, "West Virginia public schools closed despite deal that was to end strike," March 1, 2018
  123. ↑ Office of the Governor, "Governor Justice Issues Letter to All State Employees," February 28, 2018
  124. ↑ The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, "West Virginia schools stay closed as strike continues," March 2, 2018
  125. ↑ CNN, "West Virginia legislature can't break impasse over raises for striking teachers," March 3, 2018
  126. ↑ West Virginia Legislature, "Today in the Legislature: Teacher Pay Raise, H.B. 4145, Sent to Conference Committee," March 3, 2018
  127. ↑ Facebook, "Dedicated Teachers on March 4, 2018," accessed March 5, 2018
  128. ↑ 128.0 128.1 CNN, "West Virginia lawmakers reach deal to give striking teachers pay raise," March 6, 2018
  129. ↑ The New York Times, "West Virginia Raises Teachers’ Pay to End Statewide Strike," March 6, 2018
  130. ↑ Charleston Gazette-Mail, "Specifics on WV PEIA task force still vague," March 6, 2018
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