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Detroit 'Sickouts': What The Teachers Want

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Demonstrators protest a hearing at the State of Michigan Building January 25, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. The hearing will decide whether or not to order an end to the "sick-out" by Detroit Public School teachers and organizers. One sick-out last week led to the closing of 88 Detroit schools. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
Demonstrators protest a hearing at the State of Michigan Building January 25, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. The hearing will decide whether or not to order an end to the "sick-out" by Detroit Public School teachers and organizers. One sick-out last week led to the closing of 88 Detroit schools. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

The teachers union in Detroit has been in a dispute over conditions and salaries, and has staged several "sickouts" over the last couple of weeks. The school district is $500 million in debt, and due to run out of money to operate in April.

Here & Now's Meghna Chakrabarti talks with Terrence Martin, a leader at the Detroit Federation of Teachers, about the state's failure thus far to fix the problem, despite taking over control of the Detroit Public Schools more than 15 months ago.

Guest

  • Terrence Martin, executive vice president for the Detroit Federation of Teachers.

This segment aired on January 28, 2016.

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