OKC union cancels one-day walkout

Oklahoma City School District teachers will not participate in a oneday walkout planned for March 28, The Oklahoman has learned. Oklahoma City American Federation of Teachers President Ed Allen said the one-day walkout — approved by the union board to generate momentum in advance of a statewide walkout scheduled for April 2 — did not have the support of Rebecca Kaye, the district’s acting superintendent.

“We will not conduct a walkout on March 28 because our Superintendent would not commit to a suspension of classes, in contradiction of the board resolution,” Allen said in an email Monday to union membership.

Allen bargains with Oklahoma City Public Schools on behalf of about 2,600 teachers. He said 61 percent of 1,440 surveyed last week supported the one-day walkout.

“The superintendent’s survey last Friday brought confusion as to whether our district would shut down on April 2, however, we plan to walk that day with our colleagues from across the state, Allen stated in the email.

The results of that survey, in which teachers were asked if they support a walkout, where they would spend their time away from work and whether would continue to work in the event of a walkout, were unavailable Monday night.

In a statement, Kaye said she continues to support teachers. “Keeping and recruiting great teachers requires paying them a livable, competitive salary,” she said. “I share the teachers’ frustration and hope that lawmakers will listen to them and show that they value teachers and the work of public schools.

“My job right now is to support our teachers as they lead this effort, and to do what we can to coordinate our community to connect families to resources that will temporarily fill the enormous gap the teacher walkout will leave in our students’ lives.”