Los Angeles fifth grade teacher Thomas Ibarra just won't accept a textbook shortage, malfunctioning school toilets, and student overcrowding.

When the American Civil Liberties Union initiated a lawsuit against the state of California over school funding inequities, Ibarra took photos of his school and gave depositions.
Ibarra took flak, but didn't back down. His vindication: Earlier this year, the entire Los Angeles Unified School District joined the ACLU suit.

In Washington state, two NEA local affiliate presidents recently delivered 65 pounds of broken pencils-collected at Vancouver-area rallies-to the office of Governor Gary Locke. The pencils symbolized politicians' broken promise to fully fund Initiative 732, which requires the state to provide all public school employees with annual cost-of-living raises.

Through a Yellow Ribbon Campaign, public outreach, and a touch of the "school flu," the Louisiana Association of Educators have won a $2,060 teacher raise and improved health plan contributions. The bad news: Governor Mike Foster wouldn't budge on a permanent raise for ESP, even though state senators led by Don Hines (D-Bunkie) found a way to pay for it without harming any state programs. ESP did get a one-time $328 raise.

In Charleston, South Carolina, five International Longshoremen's Association members face inflated state "felony rioting" charges stemming from a January 2000 picket line clash. A peaceful ILA protest over an employer's use of non-union dockworkers turned ugly when 600 police officers arrived in full riot gear.
The "Charleston 5" won't face trial alone. They're backed by the ILA, the AFL-CIO, and now, NEA. Representative Assembly delegates affirmed NEA support for the defendants, stressing they've been "indicted for defending basic human rights."

Members of the West Washington (Indiana) Education Association tired of struggling to pay light bills. So for two-and-a-half years, these 68 rural teachers, led by President Steve Churchman, fought for a decent contract. They demonstrated at school board meetings, wore bright red T-shirts on Fridays, and even leafleted at school basketball games-a courageous act in the hoop-crazy Hoosier State.

Members won a new contract in May that provides $4,000 in retroactive pay over two years, creates a joint insurance committee, and defines the school day.