Education Austin the labor union for Austin ISD teachers and staffers is calling for 10{870dce3150dcce8b7f57e497f1835ac6446de711f3b298b842add65a7b4249b0} across the board raises.
A few dozen union members clad in red and carrying signs that read “We are worth it” rallied at Travis High School. Leading them was Union President Ken Zarifis. He said, for years Austin ISD has told staffers, they’d like to give out raises but either the legislature or recapture prevented them from doing so.
But he pointed to the ongoing school finance reform work going on at the capital building, Zerifis said that dog don’t hunt anymore. “They said we can’t because of the legislature. Well its a new day now. Now, if they don’t pay us what we deserve, it’s that they won’t pay employees.” Zerifis continued, “we’re here to say they must pay employees what they are worth.”
AISD is considering 1-2{870dce3150dcce8b7f57e497f1835ac6446de711f3b298b842add65a7b4249b0} teacher pay raises. District officials believe a 1{870dce3150dcce8b7f57e497f1835ac6446de711f3b298b842add65a7b4249b0} salary increase will cost about $6-million while a 5{870dce3150dcce8b7f57e497f1835ac6446de711f3b298b842add65a7b4249b0} increase is close to $29-million more. All the while AISD still faces a $65-million budget deficit.
(Photo:Shutterstock/Syda Productions)
