Red-state teachers call for raises in Oklahoma, movement grows in Arizona

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – First it was West Virginia teachers who walked out of their classrooms and won higher pay. Then Oklahoma teachers threatened a walkout and got double-digit raises. Will Arizona be the next educators in a red state to insist on pay rates comparable to the rest of the nation?
The threat of a walkout in Oklahoma was enough for the GOP-led Legislature to vote overwhelmingly this week to boost taxes for teacher raises and more school funding. It’s the latest success story in a movement that national education leaders say is gaining momentum.
A 9-day strike led to 5-percent teacher raises in West Virginia, while Oklahoma teachers will get raises topping 15 percent. Before the raises, Oklahoma ranks 50th in the nation for teacher pay rate. Teachers in Arizona are also demanding pay hikes from their GOP Legislature.