When the coronavirus pandemic first swept the United States in March, public schools closed their doors in hopes of containing the virus. Although many believed in-person instruction would return in a few weeks, most students ended the school year stuck with virtual learning. As the economy opens back up and parents scramble to find a solution that works for their families, school districts are now grappling with a big decision: open schools or keep them shuttered?

But parents and school districts aren’t the only ones who deserve a say in the future of schools — teachers and their unions do too. And educators around the country are sounding the alarm about being forced back to work in rooms that often lack windows or ventilation and crowded buildings that make social distancing extremely difficult.

As COVID-19 cases tick up around the country, teachers are organizing to make school re-openings as safe as possible, and in many instances, fighting for fully online learning. United Teachers Los Angeles just won a commitment from their school district to keep physical schools closed, and other local unions are hoping to follow suit.