American teachers are on strike en masse
Teachers are not only on strike in the Netherlands: colleagues on the other side of the world, in Los Angeles, are also leaving work en masse. On January 14, the strike began in which 30 thousand teachers took part. Well-known Hollywood stars support the teachers.
Image: Sophia Sanchez
The United Teacher Los Angeles (UTLA) union lists on his website the facts of the strike: 30 teachers left their classes to strike, more than XNUMX schools participated, and the teachers received support from XNUMX parents and students. With tens of thousands they marched through 'downtown' LA. Five hundred thousand students, mostly from lower income classes, are missing classes because of the strike.
Dancing teachers who explain their requirements in six dance steps, teachers who play the violin. It is the first time in thirty years that there are massive strikes in the California city of LA, reports the local newspaper LA Times.
Our students earn more. Our teachers earn more, the city of LA earns more, public education earns more
Investments
These are teachers from public schools. Their requirements largely correspond to those of Dutch teachers. American teachers also want a better salary and smaller classes. Large classes are difficult for the teachers, especially since they serve a target group that needs extra help. In addition, teachers want more money for support services and student services, such as psychologists. The unions also demand that investment be made in public schools.
In the British newspaper The Guardian elementary school teacher Stephen Altamirano said salary isn't even the most important thing, but they are on strike: 'For what's best for our kids'.
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UTLA is negotiating with the LA school district and those talks are still ongoing. Announcing the strike, UTLA head Alex Caputo-Pearl said, “Our students earn more. Our teachers earn more, the city of LA earns more, public education earns more. ”
Stars
Well-known American stars support the teachers via social media. For example, American actress Jamie Lee Curtis distributed a photo of her holding a sign stating that "smaller classes are now needed." Hillary Clinton's opponent as Democratic presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders, is also in solidarity. Actor Rami Malek, who can be seen as Freddie Mercury in the movie Bohemian Rhapsody, supports his brother who is a teacher. He tweets: 'I know how hard teachers work and how dedicated they are to their students. I support my brother and all other teachers in their fight for the schools their students deserve. '
Standing in support and solidarity with Emily Reyes, another local Los Angelina and proud member of @laschools on strike for a modest wage increase but more importantly, SMALLER CLASS SIZE! Hunk in support! pic.twitter.com/bgfstQM55y
- Jamie Lee Curtis (@jamieleecurtis) January 14 2019
[/blockquote]His fight lives on today. Their fighting lives on today. The teachers need your support. Please do all you can to help them reach their simple goal, small pay raises, smaller class sizes and resource teachers to help students through their academic lives.@UTLA pic.twitter.com/w1uXfW1ZiD
- Jamie Lee Curtis (@jamieleecurtis) January 21 2019
[/blockquote]I know how hard teachers work and how dedicated they are to their students. I support my brother and all other teachers in their fight for the schools their students deserve. #istandwithlateachers
- Rami Malek (@ItsRamiMalek) January 18 2019
[/blockquote].@BernieSanders supports #UTLA in the fight to save public education in LA!
"I stand with the Los Angeles teachers in their fight for justice and dignity." - Bernie Sanders #StrikeReady #UTLAStrong pic.twitter.com/siwBHVaomS- United Teachers Los Angeles (@UTLAnow) January 4 2019
[/blockquote]Update 23 January 2019: The American teachers' strike ended after seven days. On Wednesday morning, January 23, the teachers will return to their classes. The UTLA reached an agreement with the school district. Read more in this message.
Op the Youtube channel from the American Federation of teachers there are also several videos of the strikes in LA.
