Seattle Schools Community Forum: May 1st Strike?

Seattle Schools Community Forum: May 1st Strike?:

May 1st Strike?

In case you were not aware, there is a debate/discussion - among teachers and parents - about a May 1st strike/walkout.  May 1st is International Workers' Day and one that is hugely celebrated throughout the world (although not so much in the U.S.) 

The vote is to take place over this week and needs a three-fourths vote of SEA membership.

There is confusion, though, over the purpose of the strike.  Some say it is in support of fully funding schools, others say it is about immigrants' rights and still others say it is a focus on social justice. 

I saw on my Twitter feed today that Councilmembers Sawant and O'Brien say they are in support of the one-day strike. Here's their op-ed from the South Seattle Emerald.

As you can read below, there are differing opinions.  From comments here, I don't see much support from parents.  Here's what two different teachers have to say:

Jesse Hagopian - Garfield

I love my union. And I love public education. And that is why I am willing to make the necessary sacrifices and vote YES to strike on May Day--International Workers' Day. We have tried emailing, calling and asking nicely for the legislature to follow the law and fund education. That hasn't worked. 

The one day strike we did two years ago was highly effective in that it built mass solidarity between teachers and parents and laid the groundwork for our successful strike last year that, among other things, won race and equity teams in some 30 schools. Without that one day strike we wouldn't have had the confidence or experience to fight for more. And this one day strike Seattle Schools Community Forum: May 1st Strike?:

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Let's Keep Public Education Public - http://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2017/03/lets-keep-public-education-public.html