Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1527898
Compiled by Julian Peeples Quotes & Numbers " We can do better. With the fifth largest economy in the world, there is no excuse for California to come up short when it comes to paying teachers a salary they can live on, and fully staffing schools so kids aren't crammed into overcrowded classrooms." — CTA President David Goldberg, in a Labor Day message on the California Educator site (cta.org/educator). " We refuse to accept that our students' educational experience will be defined by cuts. Students deserve more resources today — smaller class sizes, school counselors, nurses and librarians — not less." — Laura Hoban, Valley of the Moon Teachers Association, in an announcement that the local union voted to authorize a strike in September. Average percentage increase of educator compensation following a strike, according to a new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research that shows teachers' strikes result in increased sal- aries and funding for public schools. 402,000 Number of unionized higher education faculty nationwide as of January this year — meaning one-in-four faculty are union, according to the National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions at Hunter College. 8 States with a universal free school meals law — California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico and Vermont. Lawmakers in 26 other states have pending legislation to enact universal free school meal programs, according to the Food Research and Action Center. $7.4 billion Amount of state funding needed to meet school facilities modernization needs over the next five years, according to the California State Auditor. CTA recommends voting YES on Prop. 2, a $10-billion bond measure to repair and build public schools. 8 "Never underestimate a public school teacher." —Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota and vice presidential candidate (and former union teacher!), at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. "When unions are strong, America is strong." —Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris, speaking in July to the American Federation of Teachers. 13 O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 0 24 I