Teachers and ISD employee unions from around the Austin area are pressing Texas leaders to do more and spend more on education.
As part of that, some Central Texas Union leaders are supporting HB 3580 out of State House Rep James Talarico’s office, it would would raise the starting pay for Texas teachers to $70,000 a year.
Rock Education Union President Dan Write says this is only fair. “This should be considered a minimum, there are currently places in Texas where teachers with master’s degrees barely make $40,000 a year.”
Write says teachers should not need to hold down 2-3 jobs just to support their families. He adds this is not just a teachers issue as earning a living wage is an issue for all workers.
Other Union reps support $15 minimum wage proposals.
When I was a public school teacher, I struggled to make ends meet.
My coworkers drove Ubers at night and sold their blood plasma for extra money.
Today I filed a bill mandating a minimum salary of $70,000 for every teacher in Texas. #txlege pic.twitter.com/Kk8NuxxVNI
— James Talarico (@jamestalarico) March 11, 2021
