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Oklahoma teachers join a growing nationwide movement protesting rock-bottom pay

Teachers to strike on Monday for higher wages and better school funding.

MORGANTOWN, WV - MARCH 02:  West Virginia teachers, students and supporters hold signs on a Morgantown street as they continue their strike on March 2, 2018 in Morgantown, West Virginia. Despite a tentative deal reached Tuesday with the state's governor, teachers across West Virginia continued to strike on Friday as the Republican-controlled state legislature debated the governor's deal.  (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - MARCH 02: West Virginia teachers, students and supporters hold signs on a Morgantown street as they continue their strike on March 2, 2018 in Morgantown, West Virginia. Despite a tentative deal reached Tuesday with the state's governor, teachers across West Virginia continued to strike on Friday as the Republican-controlled state legislature debated the governor's deal. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Teachers across Oklahoma plan a massive walkout Monday to demand better pay and school funding. Those on strike plan to gather at the Capitol to protest.

Currently, Oklahoma falls at the very bottom of the list of states ranked by teacher pay. Teacher salaries haven’t changed in 10 years and lawmakers have slashed the education budget by almost a third over the past decade. Some school systems have been forced to scale back to four days of class per week and use textbooks held together with duct tape. Many teachers rely on food banks, and some told CNN they work multiple jobs  — including surrogate pregnancy — to make ends meet.

Meanwhile, millions of dollars in state tax cuts have primarily benefited the oil and gas industries.

Educators are going ahead with their protest despite a recent bill increasing their pay slightly: On Thursday, Governor Mary Fallin signed into law a raise for teachers (an average of $6,100) and support staff ($1,250), plus a $50 million total increase in funding education in the state. That increase was hard won: It was the first tax increase the heavily Republican state had passed in almost 30 years, and came in response to the threat of a statewide teacher walkout. Oklahoma’s legislature requires a supermajority of 75 percent to pass a tax increase. 

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But Oklahoma’s funding bill isn’t enough: Alicia Priest, president of the Oklahoma Education Association, estimates the school system needs $200 million to be adequately funded. Teachers want a $10,000 raise, and support staff want $5,000.

All schools in Oklahoma City Public Schools system will be closed Monday, but OKCPS  will provide students meals. Some unions around the state are coordinating with local community groups and churches to provide child care and meals to students impacted by the closures.

A nationwide movement

Oklahoma’s planned walkout was directly inspired by West Virginia teachers’ movement, advocates say. Teachers there stayed out of the classroom for nine days, even rejecting the advice of some union leaders to return to the job after elected officials had promised to take action. They only returned once their pay increase was enshrined in law, ultimately receiving a five percent raise across the board.

Teachers in Arizona are also threatening to strike if they don’t receive a 20 percent pay increase. Median teacher pay there is just $42,474 — well below the national median of $55,800. Arizona has also seen a desperate shortage of teachers, and passed an emergency measure that would allow college graduates to lead classes even if they have no teaching experience, training or credentials.

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Kentucky teachers protested on March 30 over changes to their pension. The Kentucky Education Association, with almost 45,000 members, hasn’t called a walkout, but is signaling growing anger among its members. Republican lawmakers passed the “surprise” pension bill with effectively no public input or scrutiny, and said they felt it was a compromise.

West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Arizona have all seen their education budgets fall under Republican leadership, which worked to cut taxes — and spending budgets — after the recession.