Denver teachers strike for first time in 25 years

After nearly 15 months of negotiating, Denver educators are on strike for what they are calling unfair pay.

Negotiations between the Denver Classroom Teachers Association and the Denver Public Schools District started because of the professional compensation system for teachers implemented in 1999. The two sides negotiated for hours on Friday and Saturday, but ultimately, the DCTA announced they would go through with the strike as planned.

Rob Gould, the lead negotiator with the DCTA, said, “We are looking for a pay structure that supports all of those things and is competitive with other districts.”

This is the first teacher strike in Denver in 25 years. Teachers explain the strike is not what they wanted, but they feel it’s necessary.

Veronica Marcelo, a teacher from South High, said, “We just don’t feel like our central admin supports us teachers or values us as teachers.”

Katie Ryan added, “Teacher turnover is a big deal in this district and we want to stop teacher turnover so students get the teachers they deserve.”

And it’s not just teachers getting involved. Emma Hoeschler is a junior at South High and she says she stands behind her teachers.

“One of them said he’s like, ‘I want to get married and I want to have kids but I can’t afford it. I can’t afford to even live by myself in Denver,’ so I think he should be able to live in Denver,” said Hoeschler.

Denver schools as of now will remain open during the strike, but early childhood education classes will be canceled.