Mississippi teacher strike: Poll shows educators support one-day sickout, not extended walk out

Members of Mississippi’s largest teacher union say they’re more willing to participate in a one-day statewide “sickout” to show their frustration with lawmakers than go on an “indefinite” walkout or strike.

The 7,000-member Mississippi Association of Educators released results of a survey Monday. It outlines actions members are willing to take to protest ranging anywhere from boycotting businesses that donate to “anti-public education candidates” to rallying at the state Capitol on a Saturday before the end of the school year.

Just over 1,700 members responded to the survey, circulated earlier this month.

The group's polling came amid widespread dissatisfaction among the state's educators with the 2018 Legislative session.

Many public school teachers indicated on social media that they were underwhelmed by a $1,500 pay raise deal reached by lawmakers. Another flashpoint was the last-minute injection of an additional $2 million into a school choice program that provides special education students with $6,500 to pay toward private school tuition or other educational expenses, such as tutoring. 

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The group says it was also disappointed that the legislators did not embrace licensure flexibility that some proponents could believe help address regional and subject-area teacher shortages.

MAE says the survey, which polled members on a potential walkout, was shared without endorsing specific actions.

Of those surveyed:

• 31 percent said they support a strike.
• 63 percent said they're willing to participate in a one-day sickout.
• More than 60 percent also favored a Saturday rally at the Capitol and boycotting business actively supporting "anti-public education candidates."

The snapshot comes weeks after a Facebook Page called Pay Raises for Mississippi Teachers indicated an interest in organizing a potential strike.

The state’s last teacher strike occurred in 1985. At its conclusion, teachers secured a $4,400 pay raise but lawmakers simultaneously enacted sanctions to curtail future protests. Walkout participants can be charged with job abandonment and face the suspension of their licenses. Districts can also face fines for not reporting the names of striking to teachers to the state attorney general. The law also hamstrings potential district support by forbidding school leaders from closing their schools or changing operations during educator protests.

State law also prohibits the MAE from facilitating a strike.

The MAE says the potential fallout has a chilling effect on mobilizing.

“We heard from teachers who were willing to take drastic measures to get the attention of legislators but were so terrified of the law that they were reluctant to share the county in which they teach for fear of retaliation,” the MAE release states.

With state elections approaching, the group says it is studying the survey results to formulate a plan going forward.

Although teacher groups have long lobbied in the campaign off season for boosting teacher salaries to the Southeastern average of about $51,000, the issue takes on a renewed sense of urgency in election years. Mississippi teachers on average earn $44,659, according to the state Department of Education. 

“Activities such as informational picketing or having a rally are not the endgame,” the group said in a statement. “These are tactics and activities that will be employed strategically to reach our goals. Our goal is a state that pays all its educators — not only certified teachers — a living wage and a salary that is reflective of their value. Our goal is a state that properly funds public education and ensures every child, regardless of their zip code, receives a high-quality education.”

Contact Bracey Harris at 601-961-7248 or bharris2@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter.

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