Illegal IBEW-led Teacher Strike Forces Closure of Highlander Charter School, State Warns of Serious Consequences
Highlander Charter School was forced to close its elementary campus after teachers represented by IBEW Local 2323 walked out in what state officials and school leaders have described as an illegal strike, disrupting learning for students and families across the community.
According to school officials, the campus was closed for two days as teachers headed to the picket line. Superintendent Simpson-Thomas sharply criticized the action, calling it “an unnecessary and irresponsible disruption for our students and families.”
The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) also intervened, making clear that the strike violates state law. In a letter sent to the union, RIDE warned that public school teachers in Rhode Island can lose their teaching certification for participating in a strike. The department urged all parties to refocus on students, stating that it “strongly urge[s] all parties to work toward a resolution that keeps students’ learning and well-being at the center.”
Despite these warnings, union bosses with IBEW Local 2323 pressed forward with the walkout, forcing families to scramble for child care and interrupting classroom instruction. School officials have maintained that negotiations were ongoing and that the closure was a direct result of the union’s decision to strike, not a breakdown in communication.
Amid the uncertainty, it is critical for educators to understand their rights and risks. Teachers who remain members of the union may face union pressure or penalties for refusing to strike, but they also face potential consequences under state law for participating. Public school teachers should know that they are not required to follow union strike directives, especially when a strike has been declared illegal.
Educators also have the option to reassess their union membership. Public school teachers may resign their union membership and stop paying dues, which can help protect them from union-imposed discipline during strikes. Choosing whether to participate is a personal decision—and one that should be made with full awareness of both legal obligations and individual rights.
As Highlander Charter School works to reopen and restore normal operations, the situation serves as a reminder that while union officials may call for walkouts, the consequences are often borne by students, families, and individual teachers themselves. Understanding one’s rights is essential, particularly when strikes cross legal lines.
For more information on your rights as an employee regarding unions, visit Know Your Rights.
Sources: Turn to 10, ABC6
