Washington teachers demand cost of living increase

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Teachers swarmed the State Capitol on this first day of the Legislative session to ask for something they haven't gotten in six years:  a cost of living adjustment to the salaries.

Most teachers get a step raise as part of their contracts, but not cost of living increases -- and that's what they're fighting for. The step raises are automatic each year, regardless of their performance.

More than 100 teachers watched as Snohomish Democratic Rep. Hans Dunshee was the first to sign the sponsor sheet for his bill to resume the voter-approved cost of living increases that were suspended for six years during the great recession.

Twelve-year elementary school teacher Mark Mains estimates the suspension has cost him $5,000-$8,000.

“It's not that we are doing less, we're being asked to do more and more and being compensated less for it. It doesn't do great things for morale, I can assure you that,” said Mains.

On average, the state today allocates $53,596 for a teacher salary.  If the state had kept paying the COLA, teachers would be making 15 percent more today.

But teachers are facing resistance from both sides of the aisle with Republican senators saying now is not the time and the Democratic governor saying wait until next year.

Governor Jay Inslee said there is not enough revenue.

“We have a backlog of compensation issues, of teachers, state employees, who've not had COLAs since 2008 we intend to rectify those issues next year,” said Inslee.

While teachers get additional salary based on senior and education, many, like Mains, are at the top of that scale.

“We couldn't wait last year.  We're going to stay on this until it happens,” Mains said.

If it does pass the legislature, this year’s cost of living increase for teachers would be 1.3 percent, and cost roughly $300 million.

KIRO