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John,
Today, Scranton educators have gone on strike. They have sacrificed for five years because of the fiscal mismanagement of the district and state oversight: Teachers are leaving, positions and services are being cut, and students are being denied resources—all while the district refuses to bargain a fair contract.
Scranton’s schools have been in bad shape for a long time. It was our teachers and school staff who kept the schools and kids afloat for years. And now the state has nearly $60 million in tax-free federal aid, but state bureaucrats and the school board want to continue cutting programs for kids and help for our educators.
It’s time for the state bureaucrats and the school board to change course and reverse the terrible damage done to our children and our schools. So far, the state-imposed financial officer has:
- Cut prekindergarten;
- Cut libraries, music and instructional assistance for special education students;
- Eliminated bus routes;
- Closed Bancroft Elementary School;
- Frozen teacher pay and proposed that educators take on huge healthcare cost increases;
- Canceled healthcare coverage effective Nov. 3, in retaliation against educators for speaking out;
- Sat by as the Republican-led state Legislature refused to fix the enormous wealth gap between rich and poor school districts created by Pennsylvania’s school funding system; and
- Proposed slashing another $7 million from our kids’ education.
The school board and state have starved these schools and ignored the problems for too long. That’s why educators are going on strike to fight for our students and our community. Stand with us.
Let’s show Scranton’s teachers that they have statewide support. We have all supported strikes around the country—from John Deere to Kellogg’s.
Together, we can accomplish what is impossible to do alone.
In unity,
Randi Weingarten
AFT President
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Randi Weingarten, President
Fedrick Ingram, Secretary-Treasurer | Evelyn DeJesus, Executive Vice President
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