Solidarity with Striking Teachers

Solidarity with Striking Teachers

March 7, 2022

The MN Anti-War Committee stands in solidarity with the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers as they go on strike for better working conditions and  to demand better learning conditions for students.  The Anti-War Committee is based in Minneapolis, as are a significant number of our supporters.  These schools are a part of our community. Our supporters work in these schools and send their children to these schools.  

The Anti-War Committee was proud to march with both the Minneapolis and St. Paul teachers’ unions on February 12th and to sign onto MN Workers United’s public letter to the Minneapolis School Board and Superintendent Graff.  We will continue to organize supporters to march on picket lines with striking teachers.  We agree that mental health supports, class size, teacher workload, and pay for educators are all important issues, and that the District should listen to the demands being made by the experts in these areas –school staff– and take action to improve Minneapolis Public Schools.  

The Minneapolis Federation of Teachers is bringing national attention to the serious issues of school underfunding. During the Great Recession states made drastic cuts to school funding which have never been undone, and public schools have been further stressed due to the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic.  Schools play a crucial role in our society and this has been especially true during both the pandemic and the George Floyd uprising.  But in order for educators to do this vital work, they need to be supported with living wages and resources to support students. 

In our work to end U.S. militarism we are repeatedly frustrated with the outrageous amount of money that is spent destroying other countries while at the same time school districts’ budgets are cut. For example, one of the union’s demands is to raise starting pay to $35,ooo for 90% of ESPs (educational support professionals).  The Biden administration just authorized a $350 million military aid package to Ukraine which, for the first time, includes Stinger missiles.  Each Stinger missile costs $38,000.  So for each missile being sent to Ukraine, our society could instead be funding an ESP, who could support a classroom of children.  We call on the Biden Administration to prioritize human needs instead of war, and to spend more money on public schools.  And we call on Superintendent Graff and the Minneapolis School Board to provide our school staff the resources they need.

Books Not Bombs!  Money for Schools NOT for War!