Denver teachers’ very first strike in 25 years is over

The Denver instructors’ strike is over.

The Denver Class Educators Association revealed Thursday early morning that their union had reached a tentative arrangement with school district arbitrators to end the city’s first instructors’ strike in 25 years. The marathon bargaining session went late into the night.

The deal, which still should be validated by union members, consists of a host of wins for instructors, such as:

• 7 to 11 percent increases in salary minimums
• a 20- step income schedule that starts at $45,800 and tops out at $100,000
• an end to what the union calls “exorbitant” five-figure bonus offers for senior administrators
• a reformed pay system that no longer forces instructors to rely on “unstable benefits,” according to the union, as a substitute for low pay
• the chance to usage specialist advancement courses to relocation ahead on the salary schedule

“This agreement is a win, plain and easy, for our students; for our teachers; and for our communities,” said Denver Classroom Teachers Association President Henry Roman in a declaration Thursday.

“No longer will our students see their education interfered with due to the fact that their instructors can not afford to stay in their class.”

The Denver instructors’ strike is over.

The Denver Classroom Educators Association announced Thursday early morning that their union had reached a tentative arrangement with school district arbitrators to end the city’s first teachers’ strike in 25 years. The marathon bargaining session went late into the night.

The deal, which still need to be ratified by union members, includes a host of wins for instructors, such as:

7 to 11 percent increases in wage minimumsa 20- step wage schedule that starts at $45,800 and tops out at $100,000an end to what the union calls “exorbitant” five-figure benefits for senior administratorsa reformed pay system that no longer forces instructors to rely on “unstable bonus offers,” according to the union, as a replacement for low paythe chance to use expert development courses to relocation ahead on the salary schedule

“This arrangement is a win, plain and simple, for our trainees; for our educators; and for our communities,” stated Denver Classroom Educators Association President Henry Roman in a declaration Thursday.

“No longer will our students see their education interfered with due to the fact that their instructors can not manage to stay in their classrooms.”

The Denver instructors union walked out of classrooms this week after 15 months of failed negotiations to safe much better incomes and advantages for its 2,600 members.

“Denver’s kids are the most significant winners in today’s arrangement,” Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, stated in a statement. “And I believe everybody is relieved that the strike is over, and students and instructors will be back in school working together to construct a brighter future for themselves and our community.”

As part of a resurgent labor movement among U.S. teachers, teachers in West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Kentucky staged walkouts and strikes last year to win much better earnings and benefits.

Cover image: An trainer cheers while wielding a placard throughout a march to Denver Public Schools head office to deliver Valentine Day cards Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019, in Denver. (AP Image/David Zalubowski)