5 Ways to Support Teachers Striking Around the US

Red_for_Ed.pngIt’s so rare that we get to revel in good news these days and the domino effect of the successful teacher strikes around the country for better pay and state education funding are certainly something to smile about. But besides cheering quietly to yourself every time you read about another victory for teachers and education, you can also help support and ensure their progress in tangible ways too.

We’ve compiled 5 effective ways you can help support teachers across the country and in your own state:

1. Call Congress. Whether you’re in a striking state or not, call your members of congress to show your support of the teachers’ strikes. Demand your state fund the education system and keep teacher pay up to modern standards.

2. March with teachers. Whether you’re a parent or just a citizen concerned about the next generation, if you’re in a state where teachers are striking, grab some friends or your family and go march with teachers to show your solidarity.

3. Help with childcare. Teachers don’t want to hurt families, but the reality is that teacher strikes can leave working parents in a bind when it comes to childcare. To help mitigate this, teachers in Arizona are organizing to watch children of parents who can’t take off work to stay home with them. If you can support this effort, or can set up a rotating child watch system in your neighborhood or community, that helps everyone while supporting the teachers.

4. Explain the strikes to your kids. Talk to your children about why teachers are striking. Most kids have no idea what their teachers sacrifice for them and their education. This movement is about their future, so if possible, take them to a rally so they can show support too.

5. Donate to teacher strike funds. Some of these strikes are going to go on for a long time. Teachers need resources now to win the battle to have resources when they are back at work. We’ve included links to the official strike funds in the show notes.

So, if supporting the movement to ensure the education of the next generation is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about these 5 Ways to Support Teachers Striking Around the US via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

 

TAKE ACTION

5 Ways to Support Teachers Striking:

1. Call your members of Congress 

2. March with teachers

3. Help with childcare

4. Explain the strikes to your kids

5. Donate to funds supporting striking teachers:

Louisiana

Latest News: Louisiana teachers unions polling members on possible strike (WWL)

Updates: Louisiana Federation of Teachers 

Teacher Fund: *Stay tuned*

North Carolina

Details: "Rally for Respect" planned for May 16th in Raleigh 

Hashtags: #Red4Ed, #NCAEStrong, #ItsPersonal, #GetReady, #TeamNCAE

Updates: North Carolina Association of Educators 

Teacher Fund: *Stay tuned*

Colorado

Details: What you need to know about why Colorado teachers are walking out of classes and onto the Capitol (Denver Post)

Colorado Republican lawmakers want to punish striking teachers with jail time. (Vox)

Teacher Fund: GoFundMe for Denver Public School Teachers only: https://au.gofundme.com/dps-teacher-assitance-april27-rally'

Kentucky 

Update: Educators and Parents: Say NO to a hostile takeover of JCPS!

Teacher Fund: GoFundMe for the Kentucky Teachers Retirement Legal Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/trlfsupport  

Oklahoma (Strike over for now)

Details: The Oklahoma Teacher Strike Has Ended – Here's What They Got. And What They Didn't (TIME)

Teacher Fund: GoFundMe for Oklahoma Teacher’s United Teachers https://www.gofundme.com/oklahoma-teachers-united

Arizona (Strike over for now)

Details: The Outcome in Arizona (Jacobin)

Teacher Funds:

Labor's Community Service Agency #RedforEd fundraiser: http://lcsaphx.org/

Arizona AEU Striking Teachers' Amazon Wish List 

Google Doc Sign Ups to help locally 

West Virginia (Strike over for now)

Details: West Virginia ends teacher strike with 5 percent pay hike

Teacher Fund: *No longer accepting donations*

 

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Women are leading the wave of strikes in America. Here's why. (The Guardian)

The Outcome in Arizona (Jacobin)

Colorado Republican lawmakers want to punish striking teachers with jail time. (Vox)

What you need to know about why Colorado teachers are walking out of classes and onto the Capitol (Denver Post)

What’s at Stake in the Teachers’ Strikes? (The Nation)

Teachers are Leading the Working-Class Insurgency (The Nation)     

 

Posted May 4, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1181: The Red-State Revolt (Teachers Strikes)

 

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