Arizona Teachers Set To Strike Over School Funding And Pay
Teachers throughout Arizona are set to go on strike this Thursday in what is being hailed as the first-ever statewide strike to advocate for higher salaries and increased funding for schools. The strike comes after three days of "walk-ins" this week, allowing parents and community members to support educators in a non-disruptive manner.
A total of 57,000 school employees across the state participated in the voting process, with 78 percent casting their votes in favor of the strike. The announcement was made jointly by officials from the Arizona Education Association and the organizers of the Facebook group Arizona Educators United, which boasts approximately 45,000 members. Social media has played a significant role in mobilizing the teacher activism movement in Arizona.
Joe Thomas, the president of the state teachers’ union, described the outcome of the vote as an undeniable mandate for action. He emphasized that teachers were demanding increased school funding and higher pay from both the state legislature and the governor. Although Governor Doug Ducey, a Republican, stated his intention to push for a 20 percent pay raise for teachers, many educators remain skeptical about the source of the necessary funds. The state’s Parent Teacher Association has withdrawn its support for Ducey’s plan, citing financial unsustainability. However, the Arizona School Boards Association and the Association of School Business Officials continue to back the proposal. Ducey took to Twitter to express his commitment to ensuring that the pay raise is approved by the legislature, stating that no one wants to see teachers on strike and emphasizing, "If schools shut down, our kids are the ones who lose out."
Noah Karvelis, a music teacher and organizer of Arizona Educators United, refrained from specifying a timeframe for the walkout and stressed the severity of the crisis in the state’s public school system. He highlighted issues such as dilapidated infrastructure, broken desks, and outdated textbooks. The voting occurred following a series of peaceful demonstrations and impassioned protests calling for improved pay and increased school funding. On average, Arizona teachers earn approximately $48,000 per year, which is about $10,000 less than the national average.
Notably, West Virginia teachers recently held a nine-day walkout that resulted in a 5 percent pay raise, while Oklahoma teachers also went on strike for similar reasons. Although Oklahoma teachers secured a $6,100 pay raise and additional funds for schools, their demands were not completely met by the legislature. In Arizona, striking is deemed illegal for teachers according to a 1971 opinion issued by the then attorney general of the state. Teachers could face termination or revocation of their teaching licenses. However, the superintendent of the Tucson Unified school district, the largest district in Arizona, assured teachers that they would not lose their jobs if they participated in the strike, emphasizing that the #RedForEd movement and teachers had demonstrated admirable leadership and were not acting against the best interests of the district.
