Denver instructors to strike for very first time in 25 years

Denver teachers are planning to strike Monday for the first time in 25 years after stopped working settlements with the school district over base pay. The instructors union and Denver Public Schools met Saturday in an effort to reach a brand-new agreement after more than a year of settlements, however both sides left dissatisfied.

The Denver Class Educators Association (DCTA) released a declaration after the conference stating the district’s proposition does not have openness and “pushes for failed rewards for some over meaningful base income for all.”

“We will strike Monday for our trainees and for our occupation, and perhaps then DPS will get the message and return to the bargaining table with a major proposal intended at resolving the instructor turnover crisis in Denver,” stated Henry Roman, president of the teachers union.

Meanwhile, schools Superintendent Susana Cordova stated she was “extremely dissatisfied” that the union walked away from the table instead of continuing to work towards an arrangement.

“We presented an updated proposal that reacts to what we heard from our instructors, aligns to our worths of equity and retention … and significantly increases the base pay for all of our educators,” Cordova stated.

Teachers union members voted Jan. 22 to strike, CBS D enver reports. The state announced it would not intervene Feb. 6. That cleared the method for teachers to start striking Monday.

Teachers plan to picket around the city as the district attempts to keep schools open by staffing them with administrators and replacements. The district has actually canceled classes for about 5,000 preschoolers since it doesn’t have the staff to take care of them.

The 2 sides disagree about pay increases and bonuses for instructors in high-poverty schools and other schools that the district considers a top priority. Teachers desire lower benefits to free up loan for much better general wages, while administrators state the benefits are required to increase the academic performance of poor and minority students.

Bonuses paid to instructors with more than 14 years of experience do not become part of their base pay, which critics state encourages high turnover and hurts trainees. Both sides have agreed to get rid of that provision but disagree about how huge the rewards ought to be for instructors working in high-poverty schools and in schools considered a high concern by the district.

Gov. Jared Polis chose Wednesday against intervening to stop the strike however said he might step in if it drags on. It’s anticipated to cost about $400,000 a day to keep schools operating with replaces and administrators.

The teachers’ union says 93 percent of its members backed a strike in a vote last month.

DCTA will run community food banks to assist families affected by the strike, CBS D enver states. Non-perishable donations might be provided and households might receive goods form 7 a.m. to midday at the following places:

Northwest Denver Firefighters Regional 858, 12 Lakeside Ln.
Northeast – IBEW L ocal 111: 5965 E 39 th Ave.
Southwest National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 47: 5151 W 1 st Ave.
Southeast – Join Here Local 23: 5303 E E vans Ave., # 302.