WWNO skyline header graphic
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Local Newscast
Hear the latest from the WWNO/WRKF Newsroom.

International High School Of New Orleans Employees Approve Union

Mallory Falk
/
WWNO

Teachers at International High School of New Orleans voted in favor of a union on Friday.

Employees gathered behind closed doors to hear the final count. Some wore buttons that said, simply, yes. Others wore T-shirts with bold text on the back: If you can read, thank a teacher. If you cannot, thank a teacher's union.

In the end, teachers and paraprofessionals approved the union 26-18. The National Labor Relations Board oversaw the vote.

Cole Mills teaches algebra and helped organize the union. "We lose a lot of teachers every year," Mills said. "And I know that we need stability. We need job security to improve the school for the students. It's difficult to have the kind of success we want for our students with the kind of turnover we have."

International High School is the first New Orleans charter to vote in favor of a union. The boards at Morris Jeff and Ben Franklin High School voluntarily recognized their unions. And last week, teachers at Lusher Charter School voted against recognition.

Support for WWNO's Education Desk comes from Entergy Corporation.

👋 Looks like you could use more news. Sign up for our newsletters.

* indicates required
New Orleans Public Radio News
New Orleans Public Radio Info