Good for them! As a former union rep for my school I know you need to stand strong. We had no increase in over 5 years (not even COLA) and we work and live in the 8th most expensive US state. We get little pay and respect since it is a profession that historically is held mostly by women.

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!

I remember spending one Summer Vacation with my sister picketing with the striking AT&T workers with my dad. He complained that back in the 70s the women who worked never wanted to strike since they didn't care since they weren't supporting families and were doing it for a little extra money. When I was a rep the newer teachers never wanted to strike due to their constant lament, "But who will take care of the poor children?". I supported myself and I needed a livable salary and benefits. In fact I was the first new teacher chosen when class size reduction began and my district finally needed more teachers. The teachers I had subbed for remembered that I joined them on the picket lines in the rain instead of crossing the line and subbing for their classes (scabs) and they wanted the principal to hire me specifically. We have to stay strong and be willing to suffer a little in order to win anything that we demand as fair compensation for our very, very difficult job.

It will be Republican heaven.

We had a strike in our district. There were a couple of teachers who crossed the picket line. One is now a department chairman. Nobody talks to him except in his capacity as d.c.

Nobody says "Hello" in the morning. How's your kids? Nothing.

That was 16 years ago.