Walkout vote results due tonight

Organizers with Arizona Educators United, the teacher-led grassroots group, will announce the results of the vote for a walkout tonight.

The walkout vote includes educators and school employees across the state and is the latest effort in the #RedForEd movement pushing for more education funding and higher pay for teachers and support staff.

Organizers first announced a walkout vote Sunday, days after Gov. Doug Ducey announced a proposal to increase teacher pay by 20 percent by 2020.

The AEU group has not specified when they would set a date for a walkout if educators voted in favor of one, but organizers appear to be laying the groundwork for a potential walkout. The group secured permits to stage #RedForEd rallies at the Arizona Capitol on Friday and four days next week.

An application submitted to the Arizona Legislative Council notes the Friday rally would be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. with an estimated crowd of 3,000 to 5,000 people.

After the voting window ends this afternoon, organizers with Arizona Educators United and the Arizona Education Association, the state’s teachers’ union, will verify and count the ballots.

Voting ends this afternoon. Sheenae Shannon of the Arizona Education Association said the results will be announced “sometime after 8 p.m.”