Gunny
04-02-2018, 06:07 PM
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 12:39 PM PT — Mon. April 2, 2018Tens of thousands of public school teachers in Oklahoma and Kentucky are walking out Monday to attend rallies at their respective state capitols.
In Oklahoma, a state ranked fiftieth in teacher pay, more than 40,000 educators plan to advocate for smaller class sizes, less teacher turnover, and higher wages.
Despite new legislation giving Oklahoma teachers a $6,100 pay raise, educators are still unsatisified. They argue it does not address funding shortages.
Many Oklahoma educators say they’re prepared to fight for their students, and will stand unified.
“I have to work multiple jobs (http://www.oann.com/okla-and-ky-teachers-protest-low-wages-and-potential-benefit-cuts/#), but those kids, they don’t have a choice, ” said Oklahoma teacher Hannah Fernandez. “It’s probably the hardest thing to make this decision to walk out, but at the end of the day us being united, us doing this together — it’s for the students and that’s all that matters.”
Meanwhile, Kentucky teachers are advocating for a wage increase (http://www.oann.com/okla-and-ky-teachers-protest-low-wages-and-potential-benefit-cuts/#) and better classroom resources similar to teachers in Oklahoma, but will also be protesting a controversial bill proposing a reduction of pension benefits.
On Friday, hundreds of teachers called in sick to protest the legislation.
“Well, teachers in the state of Kentucky do not have access to Social Security when we retire, even if we had paid into that system prior to becoming teachers, so this is our only means of support for ourselves when we are of old age,” explained Kentucky teacher Angie Buschle.
These strikes follow a similar nine day protest in West Virginia last month, which resulted in a five-percent pay raise — making it the state’s first raise for teachers in nearly four years.
http://www.oann.com/okla-and-ky-teachers-protest-low-wages-and-potential-benefit-cuts/
I know a lot of you won't get it because you think in terms of prices and wages where you live, but $45K a year is not bad money in OK. Their cost of living is lower than ours and I could easily live off that here. Not going to get rich, but welcome to being a public servant. If they want more money they should choose a career path that offers it.
UPDATED 12:39 PM PT — Mon. April 2, 2018Tens of thousands of public school teachers in Oklahoma and Kentucky are walking out Monday to attend rallies at their respective state capitols.
In Oklahoma, a state ranked fiftieth in teacher pay, more than 40,000 educators plan to advocate for smaller class sizes, less teacher turnover, and higher wages.
Despite new legislation giving Oklahoma teachers a $6,100 pay raise, educators are still unsatisified. They argue it does not address funding shortages.
Many Oklahoma educators say they’re prepared to fight for their students, and will stand unified.
“I have to work multiple jobs (http://www.oann.com/okla-and-ky-teachers-protest-low-wages-and-potential-benefit-cuts/#), but those kids, they don’t have a choice, ” said Oklahoma teacher Hannah Fernandez. “It’s probably the hardest thing to make this decision to walk out, but at the end of the day us being united, us doing this together — it’s for the students and that’s all that matters.”
Meanwhile, Kentucky teachers are advocating for a wage increase (http://www.oann.com/okla-and-ky-teachers-protest-low-wages-and-potential-benefit-cuts/#) and better classroom resources similar to teachers in Oklahoma, but will also be protesting a controversial bill proposing a reduction of pension benefits.
On Friday, hundreds of teachers called in sick to protest the legislation.
“Well, teachers in the state of Kentucky do not have access to Social Security when we retire, even if we had paid into that system prior to becoming teachers, so this is our only means of support for ourselves when we are of old age,” explained Kentucky teacher Angie Buschle.
These strikes follow a similar nine day protest in West Virginia last month, which resulted in a five-percent pay raise — making it the state’s first raise for teachers in nearly four years.
http://www.oann.com/okla-and-ky-teachers-protest-low-wages-and-potential-benefit-cuts/
I know a lot of you won't get it because you think in terms of prices and wages where you live, but $45K a year is not bad money in OK. Their cost of living is lower than ours and I could easily live off that here. Not going to get rich, but welcome to being a public servant. If they want more money they should choose a career path that offers it.