Neshaminy Teachers and Teamsters Rally at Core Creek Park

As temperatures struggled to reach 20 degrees Monday morning, members of the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers and several other unions rallied at Core Creek Park to support the striking teachers and celebrate the role of labor unions in America.

The crowd of several hundred union members burst into applause and cheers when NFT President Louise Boyd

The , which coincided with Dr. Martin Luther King Day, focused the Neshaminy teacher's fight to get contract that both the board and NFT can agree on.

“Martin Luther King would be proud of us,” Charlie White of President Teamsters Local 830 told the crowd of several hundred.

Union leader after union leader took to the bed of the teamster’s flat-bed trailer to address the crowd.

“There is no place I’d rather be this morning than here with you. Here with the fighting spirit of the labor movement,” John Meyerson, Director of Legislation for the United Food and Commercial Workers 1776, told the crowd.

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Director and Neshaminy taxpayer Tom Tosti said that members of all unions should stand together in solidarity to fight for a “fair wage and benefit in the workplace.”

“God bless those folks who want to point at you because you want to get a fair contract after all this time,” Philadelphia AFL-CIO President Pat Eiding. “So don’t point your finger today if your a working person, because all working people in this country got to come together.”

Former Neshaminy teachers also addressed the crowd and recalled the district’s two previous strikes in 1969 and the 1980-81 school year strike, which lasted 51 days.

“Here we are 31 years later, and the board is trying to crush you,” former teacher George Schaubhut said. He added that this most likely will not be the last time the teachers have to strike.

The crowd at this morning’s rally was estimated to slightly less than 500. Boyd called the turnout “awesome.”

Whether the strike is settled or not, Neshaminy teachers are in order for students to be able to complete 180 days of instruction by June 30.