Dear Colleagues,
Below is an email to you from high school social studies teacher and steward Justin Hons, who had an opportunity on Friday to visit strike headquarters for the Reynoldsburg teachers. He explains what is going on down there. Here are a few things you can do to support these teachers:
-like their REA facebook page
-send cash or gas cards (we will send a package down if you send them to us). If a check is easier, then make it out to CHTU and we will buy gas cards.
-send cards of encouragement (again, you can send them through us)
-THIS THURSDAY - wear red in support of the striking Reynoldsburg teachers and send Justin a picture.
In Solidarity,
Ari Klein
CHTU Members,
This weekend I had the opportunity to visit the teachers on strike in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, just outside Columbus. The Reynoldsburg Education Association (REA) went out on strike last Friday, September 19, when the district refused to hire more teachers, wanted to have unlimited class sizes, and demanded the institution of merit pay.
Morale and community support are both extremely high in Reynoldsburg. I witnessed car after car beeping in support of picket lines, food being delivered throughout the day, and many parents are demanding that the district close their doors until the strike is settled. (http://www.dispatch.com/
We even had a drive-through cashier with kids in Reynoldsburg schools start talking to us about how much she supported the teachers and their strike.
Additionally, REA staff realize that this strike is about much more than just what is happening in their own district. It is about the growing attack on our profession as a whole. They are determined to win and we need to support their efforts the best we can.
CHTU is sponsoring a “Wear Red – Day of Solidarity with Reynoldsburg” on Thursday to show our support for the REA. Please wear red that day, encourage others to do the same, and TAKE PCITURES! We will upload them to our own Facebook site, send them off to the REA to go on their “Wall of Fame” for strike support, and let the whole state of Ohio know that Cleveland Heights has the back of the Reynoldsburg community.
Wear red Thursday and send your pictures to me: jshons@gmail.com
Justin Hons