Update: OKLAHOMA TEACHERS PLAN APRIL 2 WALKOUT WITHOUT $6K RAISE BY APRIL 1
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*See Post #2. March 8, Break Point, Teachers Demand Pay Raise by April 1, or April 2 Walkout
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017483322
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since Reagan and beyond, and the detrimental effects are clear. In the South, significant unionization never became established; substantial attempts occurred but were largely defeated. The noted 1970s film "Norma Rae" you mentioned portrayed her determination and the textile workers struggle to organize in No. Carolina.
~ UNIONS ARE DEMOCRACY IN THE WORKPLACE ~ 
Many more US states, esp. GOP controlled are now "Right to Work"- Orwellian for "Right to Work for Less!" and "Right to Scrounge!" states with few formal unions. For teachers and other workers, large associations and groups function to support workers and have important influence thank goodness.
This new teachers movement is growing and benefits not only them but the students, families and country at large. Arizona, another low income state in education ranked 48th nationally is also considering organized action. Maybe Kentucky too. *In WVa., ALL state employees received a pay raise due to the determined, courageous efforts of "The 55" county, entire state Teachers Strike, bravo!
Born, raised and educated in the Mountaineer State, I'm familiar with labor history there especially from the famous Mine Wars of the early 20th century. It was a brutal time for workers in mines, factories, mills, sweatshops and more in the Industrial Revolution Era and Gilded Age. The oppressive WVa. system of ruthless coal operators and many out of state investors from NY, PA, AL, London, etc., hired company thugs to harass workers and families, allied with local politicians and business leaders (still dominant today) and profited tremendously from unscrupulously taking people's land and sending most money out of state. Exploitation of workers then was on a level we wouldn't believe today. And some of that seems to be creeping back unfortunately.
"The Miners Angel" Mother Jones, the famous Irish-born American labor advocate went to the coalfields and called it "Medieval West Virginia"! But tough miners organized and fought back against tremendous obstacles to achieve some gains and rights especially with reforms by FDR in the 1930s. For generations the New Deal President and UMWA Leader John L. Lewis were revered in WV. 
Yes, public school teachers and staff have been undercompensated and unrecognized for years so these changes for the better are wonderful to see. You're right, our society seems to have lost respect for teachers in the last 20+ years, esp. with 70% of the profession being women whose labor is still undervalued. The decline is shocking for me because in my lifetime, and during my parents and grandparents era schoolteachers were held in very high regard. At age 16 my grandfather was a schoolteacher in WVa. and since then at least 6 in the family have gone into education.
More recent contempt, and attacks on teachers and public education from the hard right are part of the intent by many to privatize schools for profit-- same for government programs and services as you're aware. Continue we must to preserve our US democracy and fight rollback in many areas: labor, women's rights, racism, immigration, civil rights, environment, more. The work goes on!
