Snatching Defeat From the Jaws of Victory

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Guest Opinion

(Photo – @unitedteacherspasadena)

Apparently the Pasadena teachers union doesn’t know how to accept victory.

By a frustrated PUSD Teacher

The union said they wanted the district to offer a raise that was at least equal to the 8.22% cost of living adjustment that the state has provided this year to school district funding.

So the district did that, first offering an increase of 8.95% in total compensation (an increase to our salaries of 8% and an increase in what the district pays for our health care costs of 0.95%). Then, after negotiations, the district improved that to an increase of 10.95% in total compensation (an increase to our salaries of 10% plus the 0.95% increase in health care costs).

But at the most recent negotiations session it appears that my union then moved the goalposts. They insisted on additional things. This is not okay. I would like the union to put the current district offer to a vote of the membership, and see if a majority approves. I think the majority of us are fine with the second year in a row of a 10% increase in our salaries. Please, Mr. Gardner and Mrs. Lira, do not snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. You succeeded. You got us our 10% raise again. That’s great!

A frustrated PUSD teacher (name withheld upon request).  

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