Rally for Raises TODAY!

For immediate release:

RALLY FOR RAISES

TUESDAY, MAY 11, 4:30- 6 PM, 712 N EUGENE ST, GREENSBORO NC

A group of teachers, cafeteria workers and other supporters will be raising their voices for long awaited raises outside the Guilford County Board of Education today from 4:30 to 6 pm at  today’s Rally for Raises! The Board will be voting on next year’s proposed budget and the Guilford County Association of Educators (GCAE) has launched a campaign demanding no less than a $15 minimum wage and a 5% salary increase across the board for all public school employees. 

GCAE praised the Superintendent’s initial budget proposal for its ambitious teacher pay plan and request for a $15 minimum wage for school nutrition staff and bus drivers. Since the last Board meeting, GCAE members have written dozens of letters and met in small groups with the Board of Education encouraging them to support the Superintendent’s budget but also to make improvements in three key areas:

• Any budget approved by the Board of Education should include no less than a 5% pay increase for any employee not brought to $15 under the current proposal.
• COVID stimulus funds (ESSER) should be used for significant one-time bonuses wherever possible.
• Create pathways for part time employees to be full time wherever possible. Helping hourly employees move to full time employment would qualify them for the State Healthcare Plan.

After the Board of Education finalizes the budget request, GCAE plans to turn their attention to the Guilford County Commissioners who would be responsible for meeting the GCS budget request. Historically the Commissioners have not fully funded GCS requests, an issue that has caused Guilford County to lag far behind its peers. Guilford is twelfth in the state with the local teacher pay supplement and currently provides no recurring funds to raise the wages of support staff like bus drivers and cafeteria workers. 

GCAE President-Elect Kenya Donaldson says she is more hopeful than years past, “The work GCAE did along with so many others in the November elections sent a clear message: the public supports public schools, elected officials need to support public schools or we will find new elected officials. After years of denying our schools funding, we look forward to working with this new Board of County Commissioners to fully fund the GCS budget request.”