The Cost of Striking Teachers
In Pennsylvania, teachers in the Neshaminy school district are striking for the second time this year because of a bitter contract dispute. The union and district are nowhere near seeing eye to eye on raises (both retroactive and future), health care contributions, and retirement incentives. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the union is seeking 80 percent of missed raises, and has also proposed annual wage increases from last year through the 2013-2014 school year.
“We told the district that the June 4 strike could be averted if they had an attitude adjustment and agreed to negotiate throughout the weekend, and they flatly rejected our offer,” said Louise Boyd, president of the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers, in a written statement.
Striking teachers are not only costing 7,000 students their education, but they’re doing so on the taxpayers dollar. The average salary and benefit cost per teacher in Neshaminy is $107,002. So while Neshaminy teachers are clamoring for more of citizens’ money, this chart reveals just how much individual teachers really earn when salary and benefits are combined.
A Bucks County judge has ordered the striking teachers to return to the classroom Friday, June 15, but the teachers are offering to return to work a few days early “as a sign of good faith.”
