Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 2 May 2018

Arizona teachers vow to end strike if funding plan passes

By BOB CHRISTIE and ME- is time for us to get back to standing in solidarity. After
LISSA DANIELS our students and get back that, the long game is to
Associated Press into our classrooms.” push for a ballot initiative
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Du- that creates new funding
teachers said they will end cey and GOP legislative streams for education and
a historic statewide strike leaders have agreed on a to elect policymakers who
Thursday that shut down state budget proposal that support increasing school
schools for days if lawmak- could be passed into law funding, said Joe Thomas,
ers pass a plan that offers this week but doesn’t in- president of the Arizona
big raises and increased crease classroom resourc- Education Association, the
school funding but that still es as much as educators largest teacher member-
falls short of their demands. sought. The plan moving ship group. “We have so
Organizers made the an- through the Republican- many people now that
nouncement Tuesday af- led Legislature gives teach- are paying attention to
ter educators statewide ers a 10 percent raise next what’s going on, they will
walked off the job last year and starts restoring never turn away from this
week and closed schools some of the nearly $400 fight now,” he said. “They
to demand higher pay and Phoenix teacher Rebecca Garelli, left, an Arizona Educators million in cuts to a fund that understand that there are
more education spend- United member, is applauded after her announcement from pays for supplies, repairs people down here who do
ing. The Arizona action fol- protest organizers that teachers intend to go back to work as and some support staff not care as much about
lowed a teacher uprising the statewide teachers strike enters a fourth day at the Arizona salaries. It is expected to students as they care.”
that started in other parts Capitol, Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. Associated Press pass Wednesday, setting The walkout began last
of the U.S. and was punctu- the stage for the walkout Thursday, shutting down
ated by a march of tens of Those mobilizing teachers “Our fight is not over, we to end. The governor has most public schools. Two-
thousands of red-clad sup- criticized a Republican-led have options,” said Re- promised to bump teacher thirds of Arizona’s student
porters. funding plan but said it was becca Garelli, a teacher pay 20 percent by 2020 and population was still out of
time to go back to work. and strike organizer. “But it restore payments to that school through Tuesday,
fund to pre-recession levels and some districts were
in five years. Ducey had re- expected to stay closed
sisted giving teachers more Wednesday. Teachers
than a 1 percent raise that have packed raucous ral-
he promised in January un- lies at the state Capitol for
til teachers neared a strike days, while others have
vote. Then he came up helped care for students
with a new spending plan. and tried to maintain com-
“We’re glad the strike is munity support. Organiz-
coming to an end. We’ve ers urged teachers to hold
been working exception- community events, with
ally hard to pass this bud- some talking to parents
get and get this money to over coffee and others
teachers,” Ducey spokes- crowding street corners in
man Daniel Scarpinato red shirts. Gladys Garcia
said. “While our students said many of her students
head back to the class- rely on free or reduced
room, we hope our teach- price meals at Challenger
ers will head back know- Middle School in Tucson
ing we have worked very and she organized with
hard to take a major step colleagues to collect food
toward rewarding them for to hand out at a public li-
their invaluable work.” An brary. “It’s our way to let
Arizona grass-roots group the kids know, ‘We’re ac-
that launched in early tively trying to do some-
March after West Virginia thing for you, please don’t
teachers won a 5 percent feel like we’re turning our
raise said they would not backs on you,’” the first-
let off the pressure, despite year teacher said. Many
the decision to go back community members sup-
to work. Before teachers ported teachers’ efforts,
return to school Thursday, but pressure was increas-
they will hold walk-ins, ing on some parents and
dressing in red T-shirts and school administrators.q