Pueblo schools closed Monday due to strike; free lunches offered
The Pueblo Education Association released a statement Friday reiterating educators’ demands before a strike is set to begin on Monday.
After the state Department of Labor this week declined to intervene in the dispute between the PEA and Pueblo District 60, the educator group announced a go-ahead for the strike.
Pueblo City Schools also announced Friday that all schools in the city will be closed Monday due to the strike. Free lunches will still be available from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Minnequa, Morton, Belmont, Baca, and Beulah Heights Elementary Schools and the Lucero and Rawlings branches of the Pueblo library system.
The PEA outlined the following demands, which were supported by a third-party fact-finder during contract negotiations with the district.
1. Provide a 2% cost of living increase to all teachers for the current school year
2. Provide a 2.5% cost of living increase to all paraprofessionals for the current school year
3. Provide the step increase to paraprofessionals as outlined in their collective bargaining agreement
4. Provide the monthly $30 per person health insurance increase from January 1, 2018 to June 20, 2018
5. Educator and community voice is included in decision-making that impacts our classrooms and students
District 60 made an offer Thursday in an effort to stave off the strike, but that offer was rejected by about 70 percent of the educators in PEA. A D60 spokesperson said the district was disappointed by the rejection.
Union members tell us it’s unclear how long the strike will last.
“We prefer that it only last a few days… but we need to get this done and we need to move forward,” said Suzanne Ethredge, the President of the Pueblo Education Association.
“This is ultimately about improving our system and making sure we have a highly-qualified teacher in front of each of our students,” she said.
Ethredge confirmed there is a possibility some of the schools would have to do make-up days.
“This may require some schools to continue on during the summer,” she said.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
