Folks,
Greetings from the Burgh, where we are in close communications with our publishing partner, John Russell of the Holler, who’s on the ground in Columbus.
We will have a longer story and more videos tomorrow, but here’s a quick update on what’s happening in Ohio.
Columbus Teachers’ Health Insurance Cut Off as Talks Continue
Several teachers in Ohio were injured yesterday when they were attacked with a pellet gun by a driver passing the picket line. But they’ll have to pay out of pocket to see a doctor since the Columbus School District cut off health insurance to all striking teachers.
“I am extremely troubled to hear that health insurance for striking teachers has been canceled,” said state Sen. Hearcel F. Craig in a statement. “I find it unconscionable to endanger the lives of teachers and their families, and I call on the Columbus City Schools to reinstate their health insurance immediately.”
As the strike enters its fourth day, teachers and the Columbus City Schools are at the bargaining table with the assistance of a federal mediator.
Union Raises $60,000 on GoFundMe to Support Striking Teachers
The Columbus Education Association has organized a GoFundMe to help provide for medical and other expenses. So far, the fund has raised $60,000. You can donate to their strike fund here.
Parents Fear Truancy Charges as They Debate Crossing Picket Line
Meanwhile, the school district is attempting to replace more than 4,000 striking teachers by hiring a crew of 600 substitute teachers to instruct via remote learning.
Out of Solidarity with the teachers, some parents are refusing to cross the “virtual picket line.” Others, however, fear that truancy charges could be brought against their kids if they do not cross the picket line.
A group of parents has organized an effort to fight truancy charges that could be brought against kids for skipping the virtual training by scabs. Some parents have even launched their own alternative education programs.
“We plan to spend the week talking and reading with our kids about the labor movement and unions, with some visits to picket lines,” parent Chris Wood of Beechwold told the Columbus Dispatch. “We have friends who are teachers and, thinking about what they’re sacrificing and putting at risk, we agreed that not going to class is the sacrifice we can make.”
For more on parents organizing in support of the strike, check out the Columbus Dispatch.
Lordstown-Area Teachers Also Threatened with Health Care Insurance Cuts
With devastating property tax cuts hitting school districts around Ohio, teachers elsewhere in the state are striking. In Niles, just outside of Lordstown, where a General Motors factory shut down in 2019, teachers are planning to go on strike next Thursday, Sept. 1.
The Niles school district already voted to cut off health insurance for teachers who strike.
Teachers there earn $6,000 to $8,000 less than teachers in surrounding school districts and say they are determined to strike.
“We cannot allow the base salary of our teachers to continue to hover around life support any longer,” NEA spokesperson Traci Kempe told the Tribune Chronicle. “What does that say about the future of the quality of education in the city of Niles? We will never be attracting, much less keeping, quality young teachers in the Niles School District.”
For more, check out the Tribune Chronicle.
Help us Travel to Niles, Ohio, Next Week
Payday Report hopes to be on the scene with teachers striking next week in Niles.
News & Strikes Happening Elsewhere
- Amazon terminates employee working to unionize warehouse in Kentucky
- Frontier Communications’ union workers strike in Santa Maria, California
- Pensacola service station workers walkout
- Alabama Secretary of State receives unsigned threat of mass “sick out” of election workers over low pay
- Harrisburg pizza shop shuts down after workers move to unionize there
- People of color at ‘New York Times’ get lower ratings in job reviews, union says
- Finally, the Birmingham Daily News has a moving profile of a local GE worker, fighting breast cancer, who is leading the drive to unionize GE in Auburn, Alabama
That’s all for today, folks. Donate to pay for gas to travel to Ohio to cover these important teacher strikes And if you can, sign up as one of our 708 recurring donors today.
Keep sending tips, story ideas, comments and complaints to melk@paydayreport.com
Thanks again for all the support & ideas.
Love & Solidarity,
Melk
