Arizona Teachers Walkout: What Tucson Needs To Know

TUCSON, AZ – For months, teachers around the state have been building a movement. Inspired by the success of their striking colleagues in West Virginia, it started with a hashtag – #RedforEd – and teachers wearing red on Wednesdays to bring attention not only to their plight but that of the state of education in Arizona.

The wearing of red led to rallies. Along with that came the creation of Arizona Educators United, a group that quickly grew to have tens of thousands of members.

The group has worked with the Arizona Education Association, the state's largest teacher membership group. Arizona is not a union-friendly state so teachers have no ability to bargain collectively.

AEU worked with its members to come up with a list of goals, things that the believe are necessary for Arizona to improve the quality of education being offered to public school students.

At the top of the list is a 20 percent pay hike. (Get Tucson Patch's daily newsletter and real-time news alerts. Or, find your local Patch here and subscribe).

Even with that, Arizona teachers would still make below the nationwide average. They were at first met with scorn by Gov. Ducey. He had offered a 1 percent raise and wouldn't budge. He pointedly even refused to meet with teachers.

It was only after they voted to walk out, that he came up with a proposal to raise pay 19 percent over three years. Teachers and others are skeptical, charging that the offer is smoke and mirrors without a funding mechanism to make the raises sustainable.

Now, the teachers are ready to walk out.

"Stay strong," a middle school teacher from West Virginia, Becky Carr, messaged her colleagues in Arizona. "We are united with you. Good luck. You've got a long road ahead."

PLANS FOR THURSDAY

Beginning on Thursday morning – and lasting for an as yet undetermined amount of time – teachers from most of the more than 200 school districts will walk out.

"We need change," one of the leaders of AEU, Noah Karvelis, said last week.

When teachers announced the walkout, they intentionally gave districts a week to prepare and, while most are closing, some are planning to try to stay open.

Teachers from around the state will start gathering at 10 a.m. on Thursday at Chase Field. At 11 a.m., they will march to Washington Street and then the two miles down Washington to the state capitol. The rally will begin at 1 p.m..

HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO DO WITH THE KIDS IN TUCSON

Organizers are asking teachers to consider carpooling, using public transportation, or cabs, Uber and Lyft as parking is very tight.

Also, with the temperature expected to bump up against 100 degrees, people are reminded to wear sunscreen and bring water. Organizers say there will also be food vendors at the Capitol rally.

Along the march route, there will be four water and first aid stations – at 3rd, 8th, 12th, and 15th Avenues.
Between 30,000 and 50,000 people – not just teachers but other school employees as well as parents and students – are expected at the rally, according to organizers.

WHY TEACHERS ARE WALKING OUT

Teachers are demanding a 20 percent pay increase and eduction funding to be restored to 2008 levels.
Arizona teachers are among the lowest paid in the country and even if they received a 20 percent hike, they would still make less than the nationwide average.

Many Arizona teachers work two or more jobs in addition to teaching so that they can pay the bills.
They are also upset with Ducey for not offering to increase education funding overall.

Patch recently reported on teachers using decades old textbooks, having broken equipment, and teaching in rooms with holes in the ceiling and torn carpet.

Teachers also want education funding returned to the level it was ten years ago. The state legislature determined last year that, when adjusted for inflation, the state spends more than $900 per student less than it did in 2008.

Along with that, the teachers want a guarantee that the state will not cut taxes until per student spending reaches the national average. Currently, the state spends nearly $4,000 less per student than the national average of $11,392.

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Photo via Arizona Educators United.