Teachers across California and the United States have become increasingly political in their demands of a better education for our students. Oakland is not falling behind in this.

The Oakland Education Association announced its approval of a strike late Tuesday afternoon.

84 percent of members voted and achieved a 95 percent rate of members approving the strike. This was the “highest strike vote turnout ever” stated union leader, Keith Brown. He added that this rate is “three times higher than our last strike vote in 2015,” during a Facebook LIVE announcement late Tuesday afternoon.

Educators are seeking a 12 percent pay raise over three years, which is being met with a 3 percent counteroffer from the school district, according to a recent CBS Local article published on the matter. Oakland educators are set to strike at the end of the month and are demanding the following:

• Smaller class sizes
• More support staff on campuses to work with students
• A living wage
• Keep neighborhood schools open

Educators are asking that the demands listed above be prioritized. Meanwhile, the Oakland Unified School District is already facing nearly 30 million dollars of deficit in its budget and is discussing closing up to 24 local schools over the next five years. District officials have stated a desire to fulfill the needs of teachers but have their “hands tied” as they deal with the lowering budget being allocated per student in California, according to an East Bay Times article published on the matter. These demands are similar to the ones demanded by teachers across LAUSD last month, and I’m sure many teachers around the country find themselves desiring similar things in order to alleviate some of the stress that comes with the career.

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Daniela Felix

Daniela is a first generation college student who is heavily involved in education in her home district, West Contra Costa Unified. After becoming a mother at a young age, Daniela’s passion for education justice only intensified and she began to fight for an equitable education for all children, regardless of background or zip code. Daniela played a key role in organizing parents with the California Charter Schools Association and is a firm believer in school choice for all families. She is currently a Lead Organizer with Students for Education Reform, organizing college students around education justice issues in her home district. She was recently accepted into Teach for America and plans to continue impacting the lives of children in her hometown of Richmond, CA as a high school social studies teacher. Daniela is a UC Berkeley senior pursuing her B.A. in Legal Studies and Education along with her 4 year old daughter and husband. Daniela is a firm believer in that every single child is capable of meeting high expectations if given the correct support. Daniela hopes to be a provider of that support.

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