Pasco union executives say they will call teachers out on strike if their demands for higher pay are not met by August 30th. Their strike action would close classrooms to students across the area, just as families are preparing to send children back to school.
The union wants an 11% pay increase, on top of the 3% pay raise the state legislature already approved for teachers, funded in the latest budget.
The demands raise eyebrows for multiple reasons.
How does Pasco teacher pay compare with average wages in Franklin County?
The average annual wage in Franklin County is $35,329. That take-home pay is further reduced by local, state and federal taxes that families pay to fund Pasco schools, among other important public services.
How does that $35,329 per year compare with average teacher pay in Pasco? According to the latest state report, the average Pasco teacher’s yearly compensation breakdown is;
10-Month Work Salary: $54,245
Benefits: $23,509
Total: $77,754
WPC’s 2011 Key Facts on Pasco Public Schools report shows more than 50 employees of the Pasco School District receive more than $100,000 per year. Most of those at the top are administrators. Not enough are truly great teachers rewarded for their great work.
Union executives have falsely told teachers politicians are giving themselves raises
Union activists continue to say they only want large raises because that’s what state lawmakers recently “gave themselves.” Actually, state lawmakers do not set their own pay. That authority is exercised by the Salary Review Commission, which recently recommended an increase in compensation for part-time legislators.
Strikes by public workers are not allowed under state law
Union executives say they are not breaking the law by calling a strike. But state law (RCW 41.56.120) says public sector strikes are illegal. In fact, every Superior Court injunction to date has called teacher strikes illegal. Here are three examples:
“Defendants are engaged in an illegal strike against the district.” – 1978 Seattle https://archive.myfreedomfoundation.com/docLib/1978strike.pdf
“The MEA strike violates the prohibition on public employee strikes and is an illegal strike.” - 2003 Marysville https://archive.myfreedomfoundation.com/docLib/injunction.pdf
“As public employees, the defendants have no protected right to strike under Washington law, and are currently engaged in an illegal strike against the District.” - 2009 Kent https://archive.myfreedomfoundation.com/docLib/Kent_strike_2009.pdf
Union executives promised they would not strike
When they wrote the current contract, executives at the Pasco Association of Educators union promised they would not close the schools by taking the teachers out on a strike:
“SECTION 5: NO STRIKE/NO LOCKOUT During the term of this Contract there shall be no strike or other economic action by the Association and no lockout or other economic action by the District.”
Union executives say they are waiting for the contract to expire, and then they will call a strike starting the next day. State law, however, says the contract will remain in effect until a new one is signed.
Collective bargaining agreements — Effect of termination — Application of section.
After the termination date of a collective bargaining agreement, all of the terms and conditions specified in the collective bargaining agreement shall remain in effect until the effective date of a subsequent agreement, not to exceed one year from the termination date stated in the agreement. Thereafter, the employer may unilaterally implement according to law.
Paying teachers a high wage with good benefits is a good thing. Educators open the door to a better future for children and should be paid for the vital work they do, especially high performing teachers who make the greatest difference in the life of a child.
Most people agree that it is okay that public school teachers make more, on average, than the local families, business owners and elderly homeowners who pay their salaries and good benefits. However, that does not justify the disruption and pain that comes to a community when union executives decide to close the schools to children and deny them access to the quality public education which will lead to a better life.