Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Is it fair for teachers to attack the legislators' 11.2 percent salary increase?

Posted By on Wed, May 27, 2015 at 3:45 PM

click to enlarge Is it fair for teachers to attack the legislators' 11.2 percent salary increase?
Young Kwak
Teachers and other school staffers from East Valley and Spokane Public Schools gather in Riverfront Park to protest education funding policies

Over a thousand teachers, school staffers, and community members gathered near the floating stage at Riverfront Park today, dressed in red and protesting a whole slew of frustrations. Most teachers were from the Spokane Public Schools and East Valley, though some teachers from other districts — like Central Valley — took a personal day to join the protest. 

Instead of focusing on one decision or policy, the union kept things wide open: Many of the signs they carried had a clock with the caption "IT'S TIME ______."  And teachers, in permanent marker, filled in the blank: "To Full Fund Education," "To Lower Class Sizes," "For the legislature to do their job," "For competitive salaries and benefits." 

While both houses of the legislature plan to increase education funding this year, and give teachers a modest cost-of-living increase, over 60 districts statewide have walked out anyway. 

And one figure has become a particularly interesting talking point:

"On STRIKE against the Legislature. 
- Ignore VOTERS
- Cheat our kids
- DEFY the Supreme Court
- Get 11 percent raise?"

For teachers, who have been waiting six years for a raise, it's easy to see why that last point could stick in their craw. But is it true? 
click to enlarge Is it fair for teachers to attack the legislators' 11.2 percent salary increase?
Daniel Walters
Bonnie Banicki, a second grade teacher from Balboa, shares her frustation with the legislature.


As a simple figure, yes. The legislators are due to receive an 11.2 percent raise. Their salaries will increase to $46,839 by September of 2016.

In context, it's a little more complicated. (Read this rundown by former Inlander reporter Joe O'Sullivan from May.)

First of all, the legislature did not vote to give themselves a raise, like it might sound. In fact, that would be the Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials. The group was set up to remove the political aspect from wage increases for politicians. 

Other protest signs tend to make that a little bit more clear: "17 people voted for legislator's 11.2" read a sign carried by Bonnie Banicki, a second grade teacher at Balboa Elementary. "1,501,261 voted for teacher's [Cost of Living Increase]. Legislators suspended your vote!!!"

She's referencing Initiative 732, passed by the legislature 15 years ago. The legislature overwhelmingly suspended that initiative in 2011, due to a major budget crunch. But the first figure is inaccurate: Only 10 members of the salary commission voted to increase legislator salaries, while five voted against it. 

The signs also ignore the fact that legislators, like teachers, haven't received a raise since 2008. And like legislators, teachers are scheduled to receive a pay increase. 
click to enlarge Is it fair for teachers to attack the legislators' 11.2 percent salary increase?
Daniel Walters
"Hey BaUMgartner! I'm thirsty! Will you share your COLA with me?" Simeon Bergstedt, who teaches sixth grade at Regal Elementary, calls out Sen. Michael Baumgartner for receiving a 11.2 percent Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)


As a percentage, the increase for teacher isn't quite as impressive, however. The Democrats in the House have proposed a 4.8 increase over the next biennium, a little higher than their cost of living will increase over those two years. The Republicans in the Senate proposal, a 3 percent increase over the next biennium, is more modest.

Yet, even if their teacher salaries didn't increase at all, the average teacher salary in Washington— $52,969 — would still be higher than legislator salaries in 2016.

Of course, legislators only work part of the year, and get an extra stipend. And so do some teachers. That's a weakness with comparing teaching to legislating — or teaching to doing anything else. Teachers have a unique set of advantages and disadvantages to their job, including the perks of vacations, job security, and job satisfaction, and the disadvantages of waking up early and spending long nights grading terribly written student essays. 

That's one reason why teachers were also carrying signs calling for lower class sizes and reduced time spent testing. It's not just the pay that makes a job feel worthwhile. It's the experience.

Read more about the teacher strike here.

See photographer Young Kwak's slideshow of the rally here.

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Daniel Walters

A lifelong Spokane native, Daniel Walters was a staff reporter for the Inlander from 2009 to 2023. He reported on a wide swath of topics, including business, education, real estate development, land use, and other stories throughout North Idaho and Spokane County.His work investigated deep flaws in the Washington...