Texas legislators vote for $5K raise for teachers as strike looms in Kentucky

March 5 (UPI) — As Texas legislators passed a measure to pay thousands more to instructors, a strike is looming in Kentucky where teachers oppose charter schools and tax credit scholarships.

The actions are the latest reflections of ongoing labor strife amongst American teachers over problems like pay, option schools and pensions. There have currently been strikes in Los Angeles, Oakland and Denver this year with dangers of more.

Monday, the Texas Senate unanimously passed a bill to boost instructors’ pay by $5,000, which has been a top priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. The expense deals with slimmer potential customers in the House, nevertheless, where Speaker Dennis Bonnen stated he chooses to give districts more fiscal versatility and potentially merit-based pay. Failure of the costs in the Austin legislature might ultimately lead to a walkout there.

A key state conservative group, Empower Texans, has come out versus the bill unless lawmakers include “sufficient property tax relief” to it.

Texas teachers argue that while the salary boost includes librarians, it ought to likewise consist of other support staff.

“The legislature likewise should appropriate financing for pay raises for all school staff members,” Texas State Educators Association President Noel Candelaria said in a declaration. “Counselors, nurses, bus motorists and other support staff also are important to creating safe and healthy learning environments for Texas’ 5.4 million public school children.”

In Kentucky, advocacy group Kentucky 120 United, made up mainly of instructors, have threatened to strike if lawmakers pass a measure that consists of funds for charter schools and scholarship tax credits.

Senate Minority Leader Morgan McGarvey stated such a move would take away $25 million from underfunded public schools.

“As public workers, we have tired all techniques of communication with our lawmakers within the Kentucky General Assembly,” the group stated on its Medium blog site. “We have called. We have actually emailed.

“We have spoken face to face through individually meetings with our agents. We have shown up at Town Hall Forums throughout the state. We have rallied at the Capitol and in our hometowns. Yet, the legislature continues to neglect our pleas to end these attacks.”

The previous labor disagreements in Los Angeles, Oakland and Denver this year were ultimately settled.