Updated 10/4/19

The United Auto Workers’ strike against General Motors has created a part-time job opportunity for protesters.

The Maury County School District reached out to the union earlier this week and offered strikers a chance to make $66 a day as substitute teachers.

Dr. Ron Woodard, the school district’s assistant superintendent for instruction, has been struggling since the start of the school year to find substitutes. The school district often needs up to 40 substitutes daily to fill roles throughout the county, and it’s hard to find people with unemployment less than 3% in Maury County.

Strikers make $250 a week during the workout and have to picket for at least four hours a week. Workers will miss their second regular paycheck today (Friday), which averages about $1,000 a week for most production workers.

The school district reached out to UAW Chairman Mike Herron, who says this is an amazing idea. Let’s do it. I love it.

Substitutes need four hours of training and must pass a background check.