As Oklahoma teachers end strike, Arizona governor offers raise to avert one

Oklahoma teachers strike
(Image credit: Scott Heins/Getty Images)

Oklahoma teachers will likely return to the classroom Friday after the state's largest teachers' union, the Oklahoma Education Association, called off a nine-day-old strike on Thursday, saying the walkout had gone as far as it could. Union president Alicia Priest called the strike "a victory for teachers," even though it fell short of their goals, adding that "we got here by electing the wrong people to office" and "we have the opportunity to make our voices heard at the ballot box." In Arizona, meanwhile, Gov. Doug Ducey (R) worked to avoid a strike starting Friday by offering teachers a 20 percent raise by 2020, starting with a 9 percent hike starting next fall.

Ducey, who had refused to even meet with teachers as recently as Tuesday, calling their actions a "political circus," said Thursday he was "impressed" after listening to teachers and found $274 million to cover the cost of the initial raise without raising taxes, though he did not provide any details. "It's amazing what a threatened teachers strike in an election year can get the Republicans to do," state Rep. Rebecca Rios (D) said. "I'm impressed." On Wednesday, parents, teachers, and students held walk-ins at more than 1,000 Arizona schools.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.