South Sound News

Teachers say amendment to bill would cut salaries by thousands

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Teachers are supposed to be on spring break this week, but some made their way to the state capitol to protest a Senate bill Thursday they say will cut their salaries by thousands of dollars.

Union members say the cuts are part of an amendment to a bill passed by the Senate Ways and Means Committee overnight.

The Washington Education Association -- a statewide teacher's union -- says Senate Bill 5313 was meant to allow districts to raise money through levies.

WEA argues the amendment takes away its right to bargain, while pay hikes they just fought for could be lost.

The small group of teachers who rallied outside the capital say members of the state Senate are trying to slash salaries by nearly $5,000 per teacher.

“And what we found out was they had put some amendments on, and one of the amendments in particular took away the rights to bargain as well as taking away pay from our educators,” said WEA President Kim Mead.

Seven months ago, teachers across the state walked off their jobs demanding better pay after the McCleary decision, which changed the way schools are funded.

Part of that ruling capped local levies that allow voters to approve or reject tax increases earmarked for school districts. Those caps meant some districts actually lost money.

The amendment would change the caps to allow districts to raise more cash to fund education through voter approved levies.

Teachers say they were stunned to hear the pay hikes they just fought for could be lost.

“It’s does surprise me. I thought we have a little bit of a break, a little bit of a rest before we were once again attacked. I did not expect to wake up to that this morning,” Steilacoom teacher Heather Yuckert said Thursday.

The teacher’s union says if the amended bill becomes law, they could see salary cuts by the year 2022.

In a statement Thursday, state Senator Mark Mullett said the amendment does not affect their pay or bargaining rights.

He says it will make sure additional money from local levies goes to education programs and support services.