There’s a movement afoot, with teachers demanding that their elected officials create budgets that acknowledge how important education is to all Americans. As with all union-busting, the pressure put on by big business—and in the case of elected officials and education, it’s still big business—works as long as the dam does not break. But, with conservatives flaunting $1.5 trillion handouts to the rich, and their continued negligence toward our teachers and children, something has to give. West Virginia teachers were able to get some satisfaction after putting down the gauntlet and striking for almost two weeks. Now, Oklahoma teachers have announced their line-in-the-sand.
The state teachers union announced Wednesday that Oklahoma lawmakers have until April 1 to pass a budget with meaningful pay raises for teachers and increased funding for education. If an agreement is not reached before then, teachers will go on strike and schools will begin to close.
But we now know exactly what the union is demanding. They are asking lawmakers to give teachers a $10,000 raise and support staff a $5,000 raise. They are also demanding for the legislature to fully staff state agencies and give state employees a $7,500 raise. Finally, they want new, recurring revenue to fund the services Oklahomans need, such as mental health services, health care and public safety.
According to KTUL, the teacher’s plan would cost the state around $1.5 billion over three years. In unrelated news, the United States government spent $1.5 trillion on billionaires. Now is the time when conservative Republicans and Democrats will wring their hands about “the children.” Closing schools is bad for “the children.” Think of “the children.”
Here’s a phrase: Fuck you. Pay the people taking care of your children.