Hundreds of Teach for America alumni are slamming the educator placement program for telling members to cross the picket line during a potential teacher strike in Oakland, California, or risk losing thousands of dollars at the end of their service.

More than 300 alumni signed the letter delivered Monday to the nonprofit's leadership, asking it to stop "pressuring" young teachers to break a possible strike that could start next week. The Associated Press obtained the letter.

Spokesman Jack Hardy says Teach for America didn't provide recommendations on what its 58 teachers should do in the school district of 50,000 students. He said there's a misunderstanding on the guidance it communicated outlining AmeriCorps rules.

The federal service program bans striking and provides the awards at the end of teachers' two-year service commitment.