Florida Was First State with a Teachers' Strike -Fifty Years Ago This Year

October 2018

The FEA Delegate Assembly marked 50 years since Florida’s teachers became the first state in the country to walk out in protest of terrible working conditions and pay. Delegates saw a documentary of the 1967 rally at the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando and the 1968 mass resignation of thousands of Florida’s teachers. The state-wide walkout was the very first teacher strike in U.S. history, as 35,000 teachers resigned.

Two teachers who were part of the 1968 job action recalled the sacrifice and solidarity that resulted in major gains for teachers, including collective bargaining. Another committed educator who joined the strike 50 years ago is our own Ulysses Floyd, former OCCTA President and active member of OCCTA-retired.

You can watch the documentary and listen to two amazing teachers, Adora Obi Nweze and Ruth Holmes Cameron who participated in the political action 50 years ago at this link 17:00 minutes in.

In another documentary presented at the Delegate Assembly, former FEA leaders and our current FEA, President Joanne McCall, speak about the poor treatment of teachers, the attacks on public education, and the urgent need for reform. (Watch it at this link.)

The message of the brave teachers who resigned in mass in 1968 was ‘be there’ and that was the message of this year’s FEA DA. How will you commit to be there for your union and your profession? Will you be there as a unifier and builder? Will you be there in 2018 to work to take back our profession from politicians and corporations who wish to profit off the backs of our students? Will we be there to support each other, speak out, and stand up for our rights? Will we be there to recruit new members to strengthen our union and voice? Please join me in committing to be there for our county and state’s teachers, students and profession.