Springfield’s largest teachers union is gathering signatures in an effort to bring back annualized pay , an approach that allows hourly workers to spread their earnings over a 12-month period.
The Springfield National Education Association fought to keep the option two years ago , arguing it created hardships for employees who work nine months and are not in salaried positions.
Those impacted by the change included paraprofessionals, library clerks, interpreters, behavior technicians, school police officers, Braille transcribers, administrative assistants, nutrition service workers and others.
“This practice allowed for consistent pay throughout the year which is vital to any household,” Mullins wrote in a Wednesday post on the Springfield NEA Facebook page.
Mullins estimated Wednesday that 1,000 signatures have already been collected.
The Springfield NEA plans to collect “as many as possible” by Oct. 20 and present the petitions to the board during the Oct. 22 meeting. Employees and community members in support of reinstating the option have been asked to attend and wear red.