Only weeks into the school year, teachers at the Lafayette School District are holding an informational picket to demand better pay.Only weeks into the school year, teachers at the Lafayette School District are holding an informational picket to demand better pay.
The Lafayette Education Association says they've been negotiating a contract with the district since March of last year, declining their final offer of a 12% raise on their salary schedule.
McCormick, who is in her fourth year with the district, is calling for change after seeing her colleagues make tough lifestyle compromises amid a rising cost of living. "Having teachers who have second jobs, third jobs, living farther away and commuting in," she said. "If you look at the poverty level for Contra Costa County, a single teacher is making under that."And union leaders say, despite the district being in one of the wealthiest zip codes in the Bay Area, their pay remains among the lowest.
"We just want to hire and retain quality teachers so that our schools can continue to thrive and our students continue to thrive," Gingrich said."The Lafayette School District deeply values our staff and is committed to providing all employees with competitive compensation in order to attract and retain outstanding teachers. In keeping with this commitment, the District made a 12% ofter last week to the Lafayette caucation Association.