TEACHERS ARE FIGHTING FOR HIGHER PAY … AND THAT INCLUDES NEW MEXICO. TEACHERS HERE HAVEN’T PUSHED FOR RAISES LIKE THEIR COLLEAGUES IN WEST VIRGINIA. BUT ALBUQUERQUE FEDERATION OF TEACHERS PRESIDENT ELLEN BERNSTEIN TELLS US THERE’S ONE AREA WHERE THE TWO STATES ARE SIMILAR. SHE SAYS IT’S THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR YEARS THAT SCHOOL EMPLOYEES HAVE RECEIVED A RAISE.
BERNSTEIN SAYS ALL THREE TEACHING TIERS IN NEW MEXICO WILL GET A 2-THOUSAND DOLLAR A YEAR INCREASE. THE MORE YOU EARN A YEAR PER TIER WILL REDUCE THE PERCENTAGE OF INCREASE. SHE SAYS THE PARTICULARS HAVEN’T BEEN WORKED OUT YET BETWEEN THE UNION AND APS, BUT AS THE BILL HAS BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW, THAT CAN NOW START.
BERNSTEIN NOTES THAT SHE RECENTLY READ ON FACEBOOK THAT OKLAHOMA IS EXPECTED TO BE NEXT LOCATION FOR A STATEWIDE TEACHERS STRIKE. A NEWS ARTICLE CONFIRMED THE STRIKE IS BEING CONSIDERED.
