Teacher Strikes

It must be a new school year. There are teachers on the picket line.

WASHINGTON
On August 22, the Seattle Times urged, "Don't Strike, Teachers".
It's illegal in Washington for teachers to strike. Bellevue School District, teachers voted in June to strike on Sept. 2 — the first day of school — if a tentative contract is not agreed to by then. Similar rumblings emanate from the Snoqualmie and Northshore school districts.

Teachers and other school employees received an 8.1 percent pay raise over the current biennium. Last year they received a 3.7 percent increase, this year it is 4.4 percent.

Sept 2 - School's out in Bellevue as teachers hit picket lines, canceling school for 16,000 students.

PENNSYLVANIA
Sept 2 - In Tuscarora, Pennsylvania, teachers are on strike. The district has approximately 165 teachers and 2,700 students. State Rep. Todd Rock (R) sponsored legislation called the “strike-free education pact.” The bill went to the labor relations committee in July 2007 and has not emerged from that committee for a vote.

Souderton Area School District (PA)
Sept 2 - A teacher's strike began yesterday after teachers and the school board failed to reach an agreement on health care plans among other things. They're asking for a four-year deal with an average pay increase of 8 percent.

Nashua , NEW HAMPSHIRE

Another illegal strike.

March 25, 2008 - The Nashua school district is trying to hire 900 subsitutes for the planned March 31 strike. It is illegal for public employees to strike in New Hampshire. The superintendent is recommending that teachers who strike be fired.

In Nashua, teachers are led blindly into a strike by poor leadership
You won't believe what the city offered.

Board asks for hefty fines in case of strike
The board of education is asking the courts to fine the Nashua Teachers Union and each of its officers $10,000 a day if they follow through on a threat to go on strike next week.

(Another) Teacher Strike

Teachers' strikes are common in Pennsylvania.

Feb 4, 2008 - Downingtown teachers still on strike after all-day talks fail

Jan 29 - Disruptions as Downingtown teachers strike: Parents were left scrambling to find child care. Two YMCAs are helping.

Starting salary in the district is $43,300, with the top wage at $81,815. The average is $58,915. Teachers have turned down an offer of annual raises of 4.4 percent, 4.5 percent, 4.5 percent and 4.6 percent. [The median income for a Downington, PA household is $45,979. It takes more than one person working to meet the median family income of $53,469. Source: Wikipedia]

OTHER STRIKES
Only 13 states allow teacher strikes. In Pennsylvania, educators (and we use the word loosely) are only obligated to teach 180 days by June 15. The reason they get away with 82 strikes in seven years is because oversight isn't exactly robust.

SENECA VALLEY teachers struck in October.

Of nearly 140 teacher strikes that occurred nationally between 2000 and 2007, 60 percent took place in Pennsylvania, according to a report released in August by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy. Pennsylvania is one of 13 states in which teacher strikes are legal, and the state in which walkouts are most common, the institute found.

Students supported the teachers there, too. If you believe the newspaper. We thought it was cheap journalism.

REYNOLDS SCHOOL DISTRICT
Teachers walked off their jobs in October 2007.

Other strike actions.
Teachers don't have a right to strike in Rhode Island, but it hasn't stopped them. Entry Nor teachers in Quincy. Massachusetts. link link

Teacher Strikes in Ohio

Dec 5, 2007 - From the Akron Beacon Journal comes these surprising facts.

Ohio is one of 13 states where teacher strikes still legal. The state has had 23 teacher strikes since 2000, ranking it second highest in the nation behind Pennsylvania's 82, according to a report by the Allegheny Institute.

State Sen. John Carey will introduce a bill would add teachers to the public safety professions banned from striking under Ohio's collective bargaining law.

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TT - BACKGROUND
From the Allegany Institute, Issue Summary: Teacher Strikes in Pennsylvania

Thirteen states across the nation permit teachers to strike: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont,and Wisconsin.

In most of these states strikes have rarely occurred since 2000.

Pennsylvania (82), Ohio (23), and Illinois (19) had the most strikes over the last six years, while the other ten states combined for only 13.

Of the remaining 37 states that prohibit strikes, four states (Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Washington) still have the occurrence of teacher strikes largely because the law has provided special circumstances that permit them or there are no penalties for striking.

In Michigan and Washington, teacher strikes can occur for the following reasons: (1) the ability to strike for political motives as opposed to economic reasons, (2) a lack of clear and enforceable penalties for violators, or (3) an option for teachers to appeal to a judge.

There was a strike in Quincy, Massachusetts in June. And a great quote.

Edison School District, OHIO

"Labor consultant" in teacher strike arrested for lying about being struck by van on picket line.
AND HE'S NOT A CONSULTANT EITHER.

Nov 15, 2007 - John Avouris, described as "a labor consultant in the Harrison Hills school strike" who claimed a van ran over his foot on the picket lines has been charged.

Harrison County prosecutor Shawn Hervey said Avouris didn't tell the truth in his report to police.

Avouris pleaded not guilty to the charges Thursday morning. The case was bound over to county court.

TT - John Avouris is the Ohio Education Association (OEA) representative at the labor talks and union president.

See our previous coverage of the Edison teachers strike.
Thuggery on parade Link
Would you let your children be taught by people like this? Link

Edison School District, OHIO

TOP STORY OF THE DAY

If you want to see thuggery, check out the video of teachers and union activists at the Edison school district strike.

You can watch picketing teachers stop a milk truck from delivering to a school, hold up a school bus with school children and then plaster strike stickers on the bus. The school district released a tape showing the violence that included nails in the road. There are also Steelworkers who have joined the picket line. Hauling children to a picket line where violence has been documented for days is irresponsible.

VIDEO - On the playlist it is Edison District releases school picket video.
Other VIDEO at the news site. The teacher who claims he was "run over" previously claimed the same thing.

A judge ordered that the number of people on the picket line be limited.

Teacher Strike

Advocacy Journalism or laziness?

Oct 26, 2007 - In a story on the two-week old Seneca Valley teachers strike, the newspaper reporter quoted from one adult ("The demands of this union exceed what other professionals in this community can expect over the next five years.") and three students "who spoke in support of their teachers."

One student wants to give teachers a substantial raise. Another fully supports the teachers. A third appreciates his teachers, but said they need to get back to work.

TT - It is really tiresome to have newspapers skewer their stories by quoting from children who can't vote and don't pay taxes and can be counted upon to have no understanding of the issues. It's also cheap journalism because it's easy to find a school campus and idle students. It's even cheaper when the reporter doesn't tell you that the average teacher's salary in the Seneca Valley School District is nearly $55,000.

The average median income for residents in Harmony, Pennsylvania, is $44,622.

Why doesn't the reporter take the time to tell us what the tax rate is for residents in the school district? How much the school spends, not just on salary, but the health benefits, the paid time-off, the absentee rate? How many hours a day do teachers work, how many days a year? And compare all that to the taxpayer's salary, working hours, absentee policy at their workplace?

Newspapers don't do this because it takes time and it's far easier to talk to students.

We Care - This Much

More teacher strikes.

ILLINOIS
Oct 15, 2007 - (McHenry County, Illinois) About 140 teachers and staff in the Nippersink School District Two went on strike late Thursday, canceling classes Friday.

The district's 1,600 students stayed home from classes again today.

At issue: Pension plan contributions.

PENNSYLVANIA
Oct 15 - (Seneca Valley, Pennsylvania) Seneca Valley schoolteachers were set to begin picketing all of the district's nine schools this morning, in the start of the district's first teacher strike in 22 years. Seneca Valley schoolteachers were set to begin picketing all of the district's nine schools this morning, in the start of the district's first teacher strike in 22 years. Could last a month.

The PSEA represents teachers at 483 of the state's 501 districts. Teachers at the Lake-Lehman School District in Luzerne County are set to strike today, and teachers at Reynolds Area in Mercer County have been out for a week.

From The Tribune-Democrat (Oct 15)

Of nearly 140 teacher strikes that occurred nationally between 2000 and 2007, 60 percent took place in Pennsylvania, according to a report released in August by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy. Pennsylvania is one of 13 states in which teacher strikes are legal, and the state in which walkouts are most common, the institute found.

If you're wondering why, an organization called Stop Teacher Strikes Inc. has compiled a list of all 203 legislators on its Web site noting which were endorsed by or received campaign contributions from the state’s largest teachers’ union, the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

East Greenwich, RHODE ISLAND

September 7, 2007 - A Rhode Island judge has ruled a strike by East Greenwich teachers is illegal and has ordered them back to work.

Teachers do not have a right to strike in Rhode Island, a fact confirmed by the state Supreme Court that ruled that work stoppages are illegal.

DON'T MISS reading Bob Kerr's opinion on teacher strikes at the Providence-Journal.

Every year, the teacher strike or strikes of the season seem a little more tedious, a little more tacky, a little more out of touch.

The last paragraph is the best.

Happy Labor Day

PENNSYLVANIA
Teachers voted for a stike in Athens Area School District.
District currently employs 197 teachers and 110 support staff.
There are 501 school districts in Pennsylvania and eighteen strikes occurred last year.

Teachers in Seneca Valley School District voted to strike.
The average teacher's salary of $54,949 in Seneca Valley is the highest in Butler County.
Teachers want a 7-percent pay hike for each year of the contract, which could only be funded with a tax hike.

Legislation from both sides of the aisle to outlaw teacher strikes is unlikely, given the "the influence and power of the predominant teachers union in the state, the Pennsylvania State Education Association." - The Patriot-News

Teachers went on strike in the Annville-Cleona School District in the spring. They threaten to strike again. The district is offering a 22% pay increase. Teachers said they want 23.2 percent over the same time. The fact finder proposed a 17.4 percent increase over four years.

RHODE ISLAND
Teachers in Tiverton School District in Rhode Island voted to strike.

Larry Purtill, president of the National Education Association of Rhode Island, was present at Friday's meeting. He said that if there is a teachers strike Tuesday, parents have only one party to blame: the School Committee.

"They (School Committee members) were elected for a job and they need to do it," Purtill said. "Their job is to get a contract so kids can go to school on Tuesday."

Burrillville schools are still closed due to the Burrillville teachers strike. (Previously reported here.) Sept 4 - Tiverton teachers are picketing. Burrillville teachers decided to go to work. East Greenwich teachers went on strike.

ILLINOIS
A teachers' strike drags on in Loves Park. Harlem School District teachers are striking, the second time in three years. The average pay for teachers in the Harlem School District is $52,864 a year. They also receive retirement and insurance benefits. They ratified Aug 30, but the teachers, who had been on strike for five days and returned to class Tuesday agreed to teach through Sept. 4 but vowed that they would walk out again if no contract was in place by that time.

Nearly 8,000 students from southern Roscoe, Loves Park and Machesney Park have missed five days of class due to teachers striking.

ZIMBABWE
NEW ZEALAND
TURKEY
WEST BANK
CANADA

WASHINGTON
Moses Lake teachers are getting a 4.3 percent salary increase, as authorized by the state, and a 3.6 percent increase in insurance benefits, but they still want more. The package that the District is estimated to cost an additional $938,000 for the items in the contract.

Teachers at the Bethel School District are striking illegally, but the Attorney General isn't about to do anything abou it. (Previously reported here.)

MEMORABLE Strikes this year
Pennyslvania.
Massachusetts
Holding Education Hostage
California

CALIFORNIA
Madera teachers are picketing Back to School Night events for the next few weeks at each of the two dozen school sites in the Madera Unified School District. About 300 teachers lined up around Madison to talk to parents and students who were there for Back to School Night. The district offered an 8% across-the-board raise but kept its present maximum $11,360 cap on the district's annual contributions toward each teachers' benefits, including medical, dental and vision.

EDITORIAL - WASHINGTON STATE
In an editorial entitled, "In Our View: Greedy Teachers" The Columbian recalls another strike.

it was only four years ago that 700 Marysville teachers staged the longest strike in the state's history and accomplished absolutely nothing. For 51 days those teachers refused to work, egged on by union officials and ignoring many court rulings that teacher strikes are illegal. When confronted with the possibility of a court-ordered fine of $250 per teacher per day, the teachers returned to class.

And a community was stunned at the damage that had been inflicted. Parents and students could only conclude that the teachers were more committed to greed than to imparting instruction.

The newspaper notes that the Bethel School District is offering two-year pay increases of 6.5 and 6.9 percent, including state cost-of-living allowances of 4.3 percent and 3.5 percent. They conclude: "Bethel teachers knew the pay situation when they entered the field. Refusing to work smacks of pure greed."

Sept 4 -
KENYA
HARARE
MEXICO and EPR's return

Illegal Teacher Strike

UPDATE on Massachusetts teachers union strike.

June 13 - A judge has imposed a $150,000 fine on the union. Predictable reaction by teacher union, AFL-CIO and other unions.

Also noted in article: The Boston teachers union was fined $30,000 for threatening to strike earlier this year, a figure that was reduced from $70,000. It is illegal for most public employees in Massachusetts to strike.

Original story. TT - Link

UPDATE - June 22 story: In a 620 -to -43 vote, teachers approved the contract. The five-year contract, which comes in two parts, includes a 17 percent total pay increase. Teachers, who used to pay 10 percent of their health insurance premiums, will ease into paying 20 percent of the premium over the next two years, starting with 15 percent.

Quincy, MASSACHUSETTS

Parent sign: "Union 1st, kids last, good call.’’

June 12, 2007 - Despite a court order to return to work, 900 members of Quincy, Massachusetts teachers' union voted to continue their strike. News report says that high school students joined the picket line. (See picture here. Patriot Ledger reports 10 students joined the protest. They also report on teachers who confronted the mayor shouting, "Tell the truth,’’ ‘‘Phelan is hiding,’’ ‘‘Phelan is a failure,’’ ‘‘We’ll remember in November,’’ and ‘‘We pay your salary,’’ teachers stormed up the stairs to Phelan’s third-floor office where he eventually spoke to reporters within his locked office as police officers guarded the door.)

At issue: "Teachers oppose having to pay 20 percent of their health care costs, saying having to do so would negate any salary increases they expect to receive." They want a 20% salary increase. (They currently pay 10% of their health care costs. The 90% pay by the district is at the top of the scale in the state.)

Teachers were preparing to fan out to area neighborhoods where school committee members live to hand out leaflets explaining how much money they make in comparison to teachers in other communities.

It is illegal in Massachusetts for public employees to strike. The state's Labor Relations Commission ruled that a strike is illegal and a superior court judge ordered them back to work on Monday.

The students will, of course, have to return to school after the strike to take final exams.

TT - The student-teacher ratio of Quincy school district is 13 students per teacher. ( Source: Greatschools.com) You would think with that small classroom size, the student scores would be impressive.

Other Strikes Holding Education Hostage. TT - Link

Update: A judge fined the union $150,000. TT - Link Late word is that they've reached a tentative agreement that will be voted upon next week.

Teachers Strikes -Holding Education Hostage

June 1, 2007 - PENNSLYVANIA
Teachers at Lake-Lehman ended their four-day strike. Only seniors attended school so they could graduate.

The board wants the teachers to take a five-year deal that offers a 3-percent raise each year and requires a 5-percent premium contribution from the teachers toward their health insurance in the final three years. A family plan costs the district about $18,000 per teacher.

To the complaint that teaches at Lake-Lehman are the lowest paid of any district in the county, a board member remarked, "Well, there's no chain and ball on their ankles. Let them go downtown and look for a job if they want. We're pretty good to them." See this article.

May 27, 2007 OHIO
After a three-week strike, teachers in Richmond Heights, Ohio, apparently agreed to a tentative settlement.

May 31, 2007 PENNSYLVANIA
"Teachers are virtually out of time to plan a strike this school year, with classes ending next week. But talks could drag on until school resumes in August." is how a newspaper described a Cumberland Valley teachers union's options in their dispute with a school board. Almost as if the newspaper found no fault with the tactic. The Board objected to teachers enrolling students to support the labor dispute.

The School Board posted their response to the Fact Finders' Report. (Notice how the Labor Relations Board report "doesn't recommend" any number of reforms and refers to teachers as "dedicated professionals." Issue 1 - Teachers using students to support their position. Issue 6- Teachers get 10 days sick leave PLUS 5 days for a sick "family member." And a proposal by the school district that teachers rated unsatisfactory not receive a salary increase. Issue 13, p 13. Issue 18 - teachers selling back their accumulated unused sick time. Even when a teacher dies, the sick time is paid to their survivor.)

Mar 9, 2007 MINNESOTA
A month-long strike in Minnesota at the Crosby-Ironton school district had parents sending their children to another school district. The issue: health care coverage for retirees. [Bankrupting many states, including Michigan. LINK]

May 30, 2007 NEW YORK
Classes resumed for Beaver County district after a strike that began May 21st. June 8, which was supposed to be the last day of school for all students, even though students will attend classes through June 15 to make up for the strike. That is also when the seniors will receive their diplomas.

Only GM and Ford would so consistently allow such behavior.
And look what happened to them.