Florida statewide teachers' strike of 1968

Part of Teacher strikes in the United States
DateFebruary 19, 1968 – March 8, 1968
Location
United States, Florida
Caused by
  • Negotiations breakdown over amount of public education funding and teacher salaries
Resulted in
  • Union victory:
  • Increase in public school funding budget
  • Strengthening of Florida teacher unions
Parties
Florida government
Number
+25,700

The Florida statewide teachers' strike of 1968 was a strike action in the US state of Florida in February and March 1968 by teachers and other education workers belonging to the Florida Education Association (FEA). The cause of the strike was under-funding of the state's educational system at a time when attendance was rising sharply, combined with low pay and benefits for teachers. The strike lasted from a few days in some school districts to three months in others. Although a special session of the Florida Legislature approved higher taxes to pay for more school funding, FEA members felt the funding hikes were not enough and voted to continue striking. No additional funding was forthcoming, however, and most local affiliates of the FEA settled their contracts and went back to work by the end of March.

The 1968 strike is considered the first statewide teacher' strike in United States history,[1] although that claim is also made by the Utah Education Association for 1963.[2]

  1. ^ "Public Schools: Walkout in Florida", Time, March 1, 1968. "It was the nation's first statewide walkout of public schoolteachers."
  2. ^ "Teachers: Showdown in Utah". Time. May 24, 1963.