PHOENIX - Arizona's largest teacher membership group has voted for a statewide walkout by public school employees.
The Arizona Education Association and Arizona Educators United announced the results in front of the AEA headquarters in Phoenix Thursday night. According to Joe Thomas, AEA's president, 78 percent of educators voted in favor of the walkout.
A member of AEA said there would be no limit on the length of the walkout. School employees said they plan to continue their walk-ins on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before walking out Thursday.
"The decision to walk out also comes on the heels of weeks of #RedforEd walk-ins and a disingenuous budget proposal from the governor that claimed a raise that excluded support professionals like counselors, bus drivers and cafeteria workers – and was not supported by actual funding," said a statement from AEA released shortly after the announcement.
In response to the vote, Gov. Doug Ducey tweeted, "We need teachers teaching, and kids learning."
LIST OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS: Here's what school districts plan to do during the walkouts next week
LIST OF DAY CAMPS: Day camps offered as educators plan walkout next week