PHOENIX (AP) - The head of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce said on Friday he was taken out of context but that he should have used “more artful” language in describing teachers’ unions after coming under fire for calling them “crybabies.”
President and CEO Glenn Hamer said he didn’t criticize Arizona teachers but rather the teacher unions for supporting the passage of a statewide minimum wage increase. Hamer in a news article called teachers’ unions “a bunch of crybabies” for complaining about teacher pay while also supporting the minimum wage increase, which Hamer says takes money out of classrooms.
The Arizona Education Association said the comments were an attack on teachers.
Hamer said he has the utmost respect for teachers.
An analysis by the Arizona Republic found that Arizona teachers are the lowest paid in the country.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.