Oklahoma Teachers Union Lays Out Demands For Legislature

• Emily Wendler
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  Emily Wendler joined KOSU in February 2015, following graduate school at the University of Montana. While studying Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism with an emphasis on agriculture, a professor introduced her to radio and she fell in love. The Cincinnati native has since reported for KBGA, University of Montana’s college radio station, and Montana’s PBS Newsbrief. She was a finalist in a national in-depth radio reporting competition for an investigatory piece she produced on campus rape. She also produced in-depth reports on wind energy and local food for Montana Public Radio. Since moving to Oklahoma, Emily's work has won many awards and has been featured on NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

Emily Wendler / StateImpact Oklahoma

President of the Oklahoma Education Association, Alicia Priest, says teachers are frustrated with lawmakers for not doing their jobs.

In the first public press conference since talk of a statewide teacher walkout began, the largest Oklahoma teachers union laid out their demands for the state legislature.

The demands include:

• $10,000 pay raise for teachers over the next three years.
• $5,000 raise for school support professionals, like secretaries, custodians, and bus drivers.
• $200 million in increased school funding over three years.
• $213 million for state employees raises.
• $256 million in health care funding over the next two years.

Oklahoma Education Association President Alicia Priest says the goal is not to close schools, it’s to fund education. But, if the legislature doesn’t come up with the revenue by April 1st, schools will shut down.

“Schools will stay closed until we get what we are asking for,” she said.

The first year of OEA’s plan will cost lawmakers $812 million. Priest says the union did not identify specific revenue-raising methods because the legislature has developed several proposals of their own over the past few years that could be used to raise the funds.

Senate Pro Tem Mike Schulz says a $10,000 raise over time raise is possible, but it’s going to be tough.

“That would [require] about $600 million in additional revenue. We’ve seen a struggle in the House to pass anything that would raise $300 – $400 million. So I think if you’re asking that chamber to raise $600 milllion… that would be very difficult.”

He said he thinks a $5,000 raise is more obtainable.