WAYNE/WESTLAND (WWJ) Teachers in the Wayne/Westland school district are pushing for a contract after months of working without one.
Many showed up at the school board meeting Monday night, November 18th, to express their frustrations over the fact they they’ve been without a contract since August— and with the hopes of a move toward mediation.
The Michigan Education Association (MEA), the union that represents the teachers, said the issue is ‘beyond wages’ which includes: health, retirement, paid time off and perks.
Staffing and morale is also low, according to the MEA.
“We have staff that do not receive their planning and preparation period because they are subbing—or elective teachers or special teachers such as art, music and PE— aren’t able to hold art, music and PE classes because they are instead subbing,” MEA Director Tonya Karpinski said.
Karpinski added that the district currently has the highest fund balance in their history, at just over $40 million.
“We’ve seen no wage increases and yet the cost of living has gone up. And on January 1st, in a little more than a month and a half, (the teachers) will also be receiving some historic rate increases in the cost of their insurance.”