Union executives may use strikes to close Seattle schools over pay demands
Teachers average $72 an hour, while workers who pay their salaries average $44 an hour
Key Findings
- Teachers in Seattle are paid on average $72 an hour, including benefits.
- The workers who pay their salaries are paid on average $44 an hour, including benefits.
- Union executives are using the threat of illegal school strikes to demand higher
- pay.
- The current compensation system for teachers is not fair to teachers or students.
- Washington Policy Center recommends discarding the rigid wage ladder, and doubling the pay of the best teachers.
- Teacher pay is also limited by the hiring practices of the Seattle Public Schools, where only 49 percent of employees are teachers.
Background
This summer officials at 250 of the state’s 295 school districts are renegotiating work contracts with teachers and other school personnel. The WEA teachers union wants up to 21 percent more money for teachers and 37 percent in pay raises for non-teachers. WEA executives say they will close the schools by calling more school strikes this fall, although teacher strikes are illegal under state law. Given the threat of disruption, officials in 24 school districts have already agreed to double-digit pay increases.
Union executives are claiming the levels of pay and benefits that taxpayers provide to teachers in Washington state are unfair and should be higher. Naturally, union executives want their own members to receive more money from public budgets, but that does not mean current pay levels are unfair or too low.
Union executives have targeted schools in six districts for strikes. These are schools in Seattle, Kent, Kennewick, Mukilteo, Evergreen (Clark County), and Washougal.
Even in wealthy Seattle, officials see the union’s money demands unreasonable. As Seattle Public Schools Deputy Superintendent Stephen Nielsen says, “We don’t have the money to do that.”
Click here for the full Policy Note that examines teacher pay statewide
