A teacher strike is a work stoppage that results in schools being closed for an extended period of time. Strikes are typically a last resort when negotiations with school board members break down and teachers feel they need to raise their voices to be heard. The issue behind most strikes is a sense of dissatisfaction with the working conditions in the classroom and with overall school administration.
While teachers may want to focus on the specifics of their contract, most of them are also seeking to influence policy makers. For example, some teachers seek to influence state legislation that governs how much local taxes can be used for education. In this regard, it is important for policy makers to strike a balance between supporting educators and protecting the interests of students.
A recent study from economists Michael Lyon, Robert Kraft, and Yvette Steinberg finds that when teachers do strike, they tend to win meaningful improvements for themselves. Their research shows that a majority of the strikes they studied led to higher compensation on average and to reduced class sizes. In addition, strikes are associated with greater per-pupil spending and increased investment in non-teacher staff like nurses, social workers, and counselors.