Teachers seek 10.25 percent raise

12/3/2014

The war against working Americans starts with government unions

Counselor Augustine Evans, right, presents signatures at the San Diego Unified school board meeting on Tuesday night. — Maureen Magee

Union also wants lower class sizes and to protect teacher preparation time

Hundreds of educators rallied at the San Diego school board meeting Tuesday to advocate for lower class sizes, higher salaries, more nurses and counselors and to protect teacher preparation time.

The show of support for teachers' union positions came amid contract negotiations that have been underway for months.

Teachers presented a petition the length of a football field that was signed by some 4,500 educators, parents and community members. The document is intended to show widespread support for the San Diego Education Association’s five-point contract proposal, said Lindsay Burningham, president of the teachers union.

“It’s not just our leadership and bargaining team whose priorities these are, but also our community’s,” Burningham said. “After all the cuts, we want to build back our schools.”

The demonstration came one day after Superintendent Cindy Marten and board President Kevin Beiser delivered speeches at the annual state of the district ceremony. They both emphasized that education policies should be set with community collaboration.

The district’s current teacher contract expires June 30.

The teachers union released its contract proposal in March. San Diego Unified made its pitch the following month, calling for changes to teacher evaluations, recruitment policies, salaries and class sizes. The initial proposals released by both parties were broad overviews, with details to be hammered out during negotiations.

The union has called for a 10.25 percent salary increase over two years under its latest proposal. San Diego Unified teacher salaries are lower than some other districts in the county, but the district offers a more generous benefits package.

The union also wants teachers to earn more money for participating in professional development sessions and district committees.

San Diego school trustees received the petition on Tuesday without any formal comment.

What percent raise should San Diego teachers receive over their two-year contract?

• 0
• 5.5%
• 10.25%
• More than 10.25%

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