Clark County Teachers Threaten Work Stoppage Amid Pay Raise Dispute

Thousands of teachers gathered at a convention center in Rio to discuss potential work stoppages at select schools if pay raise demands remain unmet by August 17th.

From UPS to Amazon and now teachers. Workers demanding more pay is on the rise as the FEDS announce an increase in interest rates and economists warn of a recession by year-end. As the economy becomes less liquid, it is no wonder that even teachers in Clark and other counties in Nevada are demanding pay raises. However, proficiency is at an all-time low, some of what is due to COVID, where classroom education was disrupted, and homeschooling became the norm. nevertheless, teachers in a Nevada District are asking for a pay raise which may affect the start of the school year. While some remain confident that a decision will be made by the district given a recent approval of 250 million dollars by the governor in the state budget which was set aside for education, state officials such as Assembly man Reuben D ‘Silva, NV Assemblyman representing East Las Vegas (AD28), whom Renaldo McKenzie at The NeoLiberal spoke with about the matter, said that “No deal in sight yet. We are still a long way away; we’re fighting for a new contract with the school district with some historic pay raises and benefits for teachers!” The Teachers’ Union reassured that they would start classes on Aug 7 but that if no decision is made to accept their demands, by Aug 17th, then they will take action. Mr. D’Silva sent a statement on this issue, that it is simple, “”The Clark County School District has the money needed for the teacher raises. The district should do the right thing and sign the contract immediately.” Here is the story:

Las Vegas, – Amidst a deadlock between the Clark County Education Association (CCEA) and the Clark County School District (CCSD) over salary hikes, thousands of teachers convened at a convention center in Rio to contemplate potential work stoppages at specific schools if their demands for pay raises are not met before the new school year begins on August 7.

As negotiations continue, the CCEA’s key demands include a 10 percent increase in pay for teachers during the first year of the contract, followed by an 8 percent raise in the second year. Additionally, they are advocating for $5,000 extra for special education teachers and an additional $5,000 for teachers at Title 1 schools, which serve a higher percentage of students from low-income families.

The CCEA expressed concerns over a high vacancy rate of special education and Title 1 teachers within CCSD, citing a need for better compensation to retain educators. According to the union, the current starting pay for CCSD teachers is $50,000, significantly lower than other districts, such as $62,000 for new educators in Los Angeles County, leading to an exodus of teachers from the district.

The union argued that Senate Bill 261, passed by the Nevada Legislature and signed by Governor Joe Lombardo in June, allocated $250 million in matching funds for public school teacher pay raises, but the money has not yet been utilized by CCSD.

In response, CCSD officials expressed their commitment to reward educators for their dedication and impact on students’ education, with increases based on available ongoing funds allocated for that purpose. They emphasized the need to uphold progress made in recent negotiations and discouraged any actions that could disrupt the start of the school year.

The potential work stoppages would not be district-wide but would begin at schools within select districts represented by the Clark County School Board, particularly District C, chaired by Evelyn Garcia Morales. The CCEA stated that the decisions regarding work actions were made with a heavy heart and that teachers would still be present for the first day of school.

During the press conference, teachers emphasized the urgency of addressing their demands, given the crisis-level teacher vacancy rate and the impact of low pay on educators and their families. The CCEA aims to resolve the impasse in the negotiations and achieve a settlement that meets their proposals, which they estimate to be approximately $480 million apart from the district’s current offer.

As the negotiations are set to continue on August 17 and 18, the fate of the upcoming school year in Clark County remains uncertain. Teachers hope for a resolution that recognizes their invaluable contributions to students’ academic success and adequately compensates them for their efforts. Teachers, who are instrumental in shaping young minds, express deep frustration and concern over their current financial struggles. Many have considered leaving the education field for higher-paying opportunities in other sectors.

With the threat of a potential “work stoppage” or “work actions” on August 26, the situation has escalated, making it clear that teachers are determined to fight for what they believe they deserve. The CCSD maintains its commitment to compensate teachers using available funds, but the gap between the two parties remains significant.

As negotiations continue, it is essential for both sides to come to a resolution that prioritizes the welfare of students and acknowledges the invaluable contributions teachers make to society. The future of education in Clark County hinges on finding common ground and providing educators with the support they need to thrive professionally and financially.

The story is available on The NeoLiberal Round Podcast in Yesterdays’ News Today:

Update on The Story:

Dr. Fontaine reached out to us to inquire about this story based on his assumptions about Strikes in Nevada, via Twitter:

I was under the impression that strikes were illegal in NV? Can you confirm

Dr. Nolan Fontaine Via Twitter

Our team working this story reached out to our sources in Nevada: According to our sources in #Nevada, “Yes, strikes by public sector #unions in #nevada are illegal. That’s why we [teachers] are calling it a “work action” [& not a strike]. That’s according to State Assemblyman @ReubenDSilvaNV whom we at The NeoLiberal and The NeoLiberal Journals https://theneoliberal.com had contacted earlier about this. We will continue to provide more details on this as the news unfolds.

Reference and Source:

1. Review Journal: Teachers union considering walkouts if no pact with CCSD by Aug. 26

2. NBC 3 News: CCEA looking to strike as teacher contract negotiations continue

3. KLAS 8 CBS News Now: $250 million is impasse between teacher’s union and CCSD on teacher pay

4. ABC KTNV: Teachers’ union hints at possible ‘work stoppage’ if deal is not reached with CCSD

5. The NeoLiberal Corporation Research News Team and contributions from State Representative, Reuben D’Silva.

The article was first published by The NeoLiberal Corporation’s Moral Magazine and is available in The NeoLiberal Journals.

This article will be presented in Audio Podcast on The NeoLiberal Round later. 

Summitted by Renaldo McKenzie, Senior Writer/Editor at The NeoLiberal Corporation Moral Magazine Journals. 

Email us at [email protected] or [email protected] or theneoliberal#renaldocmckenzie.com

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