Oklahoma City AFT on Upcoming Vote to End Teacher Walkout

OKLAHOMA CITY—Statement by Ed Allen, president of the Oklahoma City American Federation of Teachers, and Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, on ending the teacher walkout:

Oklahoma City AFT President Ed Allen says: “We have been at the state Capitol for the last two weeks, doing everything we can to try to get as much as possible for the children of Oklahoma City. We are proud of what we have accomplished, but truthfully there’s no one left to negotiate with in the Statehouse.

“The Oklahoma Education Association has its own process for ending the walkout; we have ours. The Oklahoma City AFT went out with a vote, and we will go back in based on a vote. Tonight, our union will hold a telephone town hall meeting with our members to discuss the situation and listen to what teachers have to say. Tomorrow, we will take a vote of Oklahoma City teachers on whether to return to the classroom.”

AFT President Randi Weingarten says: “Oklahoma City’s teachers have been barnstorming the Capitol to secure everything they can, and they want to be back in the classroom, teaching. We’ve fought hard, and we’ve won some critical gains, but it’s clear this Legislature and governor will move no further, despite the need. So our attention will turn to November. We will fight up and down every ballot to elect people who believe in public education and who will invest in our public schools and kids.”