December 14, 2022 - The Washington Post reported on WTU's approval of the tentative contract agreement with DCPS. They covered the fact that the new agreement will secure raises and other benefits for 5,500 public school teachers. The group reached a tentative agreement with the city in late November, which came after more than three years without a labor contract. Members voted on the measure Tuesday night and overwhelmingly supported it — 3,445 members approved and 29 teachers opposed, according to union officials.
DC teachers’ retroactive pay delayed due to ‘administrative complications,’ union says
WTOP NEWS - WTU President Pogue-Lyons expressed disappointment and outrage at DCPS' inability to pay teachers on time. In a WTOP interview, she said, " This union and our teachers want to rebuild the trust, but you only really rebuild trust with consistency,” WTU President Jacqueline Pogue Lyons told WTOP. “This is not working on consistency, by finding out during Teacher Appreciation Week that money you were counting on won’t be coming. They have promised to get partial payment, but teachers were counting on full payment. And so it’s disappointing and upsetting.”
Read moreWTU: City Says It Can’t Figure Out How to Pay Teachers Negotiated Pay
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Channel 9 Interview with WTU President Pogue-Lyons on Youth Violence
In an interview with Channel 9 News, WTU President Jacqueline Pogue-Lyons discussed the effect of violence on students. She advocated for DCPS to increase the socio-emotional learning supports for students. To read the full story, click here.
US Secretary Visits DC School Awarded Grant
News4’s Juliana Valencia reported on U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona's visit to Turner Elementary School, a recipient of the Full-Service Community Schools grant program.
Watch the full news story here.
DC elementary students celebrate 19-years of reading 'I Have a Dream' MLK speech
Washington, D.C. (7News) — Watkins Elementary School students marked a 19-year-old tradition on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Friday afternoon to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The students recited MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech at the very spot where he stood in 1963.
Read the full story here.
DC teachers’ union ratifies new contract with overwhelming support
December 14th, 2022 - WTOP News reported on the overwhelming approval of the new contract by union members by a vote of 3,445 to 29. They highlight the new 12% retroactive raise for the past three years, when teachers worked under an expired contract, and for the current school year, plus a 4% retention bonus for every teacher.
Highlights from the contract lists nine items Union members will receive:
- Salary increases are 2%, 2.5%, 3.5% and 4% for each year, respectively, starting in 2019, totaling 12%, plus interest and an additional 4% “signing” bonus for every teacher.
- Administrative premium, for overtime, increases 50% to $60 an hour.
- Starting salary goes from $56,313 to just over $63,373. The top salary (for teachers with more than 21 years of service and at least a master’s degree) goes from $116,408 to around $131,000.
- Beginning teachers will receive a $7,060 increase, and teachers at the top salary step will receive a $14,595 boost.
To learn more, read the Full story here.