A wave of teacher strikes and mass protests spreads across the U.S.

As a wave of teacher strikes and mass protests spreads across the U.S. because of low wages, retirement benefit cuts, diversion of education funding to privately-run charter schools and other issues, teachers are also standing up for school services support staff. Under pressure, “the Legislature in Oklahoma City voted to provide teachers with an average raise of $6,000 per year, or roughly a 16 percent raise, depending on experience. Gov. Mary Fallin, a Republican, signed the package into law. Teachers said it was not enough. They have asked for a $10,000 raise, as well as additional funding for schools and raises for support staff like bus drivers and custodians.”