American Federation of Teachers supports strikes if schools don't reopen safely

The American Federation of Teachers, the country's second-largest teachers union, said on Tuesday it will support any strike conducted because of safety concerns over reopening schools amid the coronavirus pandemic.

President Randi Weingarten said if authorities "don't protect the safety and health of those we represent and those we serve ... nothing is off the table. Not advocacy or protests, negotiations, grievances or lawsuits, or, if necessary and authorized by a local union, as a last resort, safety strikes."

The AFT also adopted a resolution stating that schools should only be able to physically reopen in areas where the COVID-19 transmission rate is less than one percent and the daily community infection rate is below five percent, NPR reports.

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