Rebecca Gvozden, Brianna Leonard & Blake Sammann at KKTV 11 in Colorado report hundreds of Union-represented Teachers from Colorado Springs’ largest School District are on Strike and are picketing outside District 11 Schools. Teachers, students, parents and grandparents gathered outside Palmer High School at 7 a.m. on Wednesday (October 8th) with everyone wearing red in unison. Similar protests also took place at Russell and Sabin Middle School, and other locations across Colorado Springs. School District Officials said roughly one-third of their Teachers - 600 of 1,800, are participating in the Strike - adding no Teachers were disciplined for taking part, with absences were recorded as leave without pay, per District policy. The Strike came to be after the District finalized its plan to end its decades-long contract with the Teachers’ Union - the Colorado Springs Education Association, and created a handbook, which Teachers say does not provide the same guarantees. The Union believes the District is trying to silence educators and parents. “That was the agreement that this Board shredded so that they could make top-down decisions that have undermined the quality of education in D11,” said Palmer High School Spanish Teacher Ali Eustice.

For More On This Labor News Story, Go To: Hundreds of teachers at southern Colorado’s largest school district strike and Colorado Springs Education Association – SOLIDARITY. JUSTICE. PROFESSIONALISM.