Hundreds of American Federation of Teachers members marched en masse on St. Croix’s Government House on Friday protesting their lack of a contract.
One marcher estimated that some 400 teachers, paraprofessionals and support staff walked from Bassin Triangle on the outskirts of Christiansted to downtown and Government House and back. Along the way, marchers shouted slogans and were met by supportive drivers honking their horns.
"No money, no work," shouted union members on the third day of the strike. "Support your teachers and blow your horns," shouted others.
Michael Sterling, a union representative at the Educational Complex, said that although no one in Government House came out to talk to the teachers, teachers have nonetheless turned the table on the Turnbull administration.
"They’re the ones being intimidated," he said. "We want real money, real wages to return us to step and recurring revenue to pay us."
On Friday, the St. Croix AFT sent out a release to its members encouraging them to remain unified and "strongly urge all persons not to cross the picket lines."
