Dept. of Labor not intervening; Pueblo teachers to strike Monday
Teachers in Pueblo District 60 will soon be striking for their grievances after the state Department of Labor elected not to intervene in the dispute between the district and the Pueblo Education Association.
That’s according to PEA President Suzanne Ethredge, who said teachers will begin striking Monday in an effort to protest what they call low salaries, “it’s obviously a big concern for us and it’s obviously the last thing we prefer to do however we feel it’s necessary action at this time.”
There could be about 1,000 teachers picketing. This morning an email was sent to D60 employees that says, “members of the professional staff who use excused leave to participate in either “sick-outs” or a strike will be subject to a full salary deduction for each day of absence based on the staff member’s current daily rate of pay.”
Ethredge said the email was wrong in parts, “we do not believe that it was not right at all. This is a perfectly legal strike and the department of labor’s lack of intervention shows that. We have followed all the processes and procedures we need to make this a legal strike.”
The district responded Wednesday evening saying it was disappointed by the department’s decision. District 60 also said it believes its finances will be more stable next year, which would allow them “to provide additional compensation to all employees,” though exact details weren’t given.
Spokesperson Dalton Sprouse said the district would keep parents informed about school schedules through news releases and social media, adding that any important communications would be transmitted through the district’s School Messenger calling system.
“In the event of a strike, we will make every effort to continue our educational programming where possible and will take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of our students. We will continue to work to resolve this dispute as soon as possible,” the district said Wednesday.
D60 earlier this year denied a cost-of-living adjustment for teachers and staffers, prompting backlash at meetings and walkouts at schools across the district. While teachers from across the state descended on Denver last Friday to protest state-level funding, Pueblo teachers are seeing their fight at the local level.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
Earlier Story
Carlile Elementary has been added to long list of Pueblo schools who have missed class because of teacher “call outs.”
The school’s website had this announcement, “We regret to inform you that it is necessary to cancel classes at Carlile Elementary School tomorrow, Monday, April 30, 2018. This decision is necessary due to an excessively high number of teacher call offs reported in the system.”
Carlile’s schoolyard sat empty on Monday, but if that wasn’t enough, a piece of paper attached to a chair sat outside the front door reading, “no school today.”
Just last week hundreds of teachers marched around the D60 school board meeting hoping they’d catch their attention. There’s been an ongoing disagreement on teacher salaries between the board and union. Two weeks ago, the Pueblo Education Association filed to go on strike, but they legally have to wait 20 days before taking action.
As on Monday, the state only has a week left. Bret Webster, Vice President of the Pueblo Education Association said, “we’re still scheduled for May 7th as the day we’ve chosen.”
If the state does intervene Webster says, “they bring the two parties together and they help try to bring them close enough to where they can come to some sort of solution, conclusion or in our case settle the contract.”
If the strike does happen, hundreds of teachers won’t show up for class, but we don’t know what that means for students or if the district has a plan set in the place.
