The Columbus teachers union in Ohio is on strike after a vote on Sunday, just days away from the district's first day of school on Wednesday.þþTeachers began picketing outside over a dozen of the district's schools on Monday morning. The union said it will gather outside schools from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day until a deal is reached.þþThe Columbus Education Association, with 4,000 members, reached a 94% majority on the vote Sunday.þþÿIt is with a full understanding of the sacrifices that students, parents, and teachers will make together to win the schools Columbus Students Deserve that CEA members overwhelmingly rejected the Board's last, best and final offer tonight and voted to strike,ÿ Columbus Education Association spokesperson Regina Fuentes said on Sunday in statement.þþThe Columbus Board of Education called the decision to strike ÿincredibly disappointingÿ in a statement on Sunday.þþFuentes said Sunday the board has ÿtried desperatelyÿ to make the compromise about teacher salary, teacher professional development and teacher leaves.þþÿLet me be clear,ÿ Fuentes said. ÿThis strike is about our students who deserve a commitment to modern schools with heating and air conditioning, smaller class sizes, and a well-rounded curriculum that includes art, music and P.E.ÿþþJennifer Adair, Columbus Board of Education President, said in a statement on Sunday the board's offer ÿput children first and prioritized their education and their growth.ÿþþAdair said the board offered a generous compensation package for teachers and responded to the concerns raised by the teacher's union during the negotiations process.þþThe union and board last met in a mediated discussion on Aug. 18, where the board offered guaranteed raises of 3% annually for three years and $2,000 per CEA member in retention and recruitment bonuses.þþAdair said the board offered a generous compensation package for teachers and responded to the concerns raised by the teacher's union during the negotiations process.þþThe union and board last met in a mediated discussion on Aug. 18, where the board offered guaranteed raises of 3% annually for three years and $2,000 per CEA member in retention and recruitment bonuses.þþþAccording to the board, by the end of the contract, a teacher with a current average salary of $74,000 will earn more than $91,000.þþThe board's last offer also stated that it committed funds to install air conditioning in every school, with the exception of one that already has central air in about 50% of the building and is slated to be replaced by a new school in a proposed facilities master plan, the board said.þþWith the 2022-2023 school year scheduled to begin on Wednesday, the board has decided to make back-to-school virtual, led by substitute teachers, in order to begin instruction on time, according to their statement on Sunday.þþColumbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said in a statement Sunday night that there needs to be another negotiation, in order to get students back in the classroom.þþGinther said the past few years have ÿunderscored the value of our teachers, the resiliency of our kids and the need for Columbus City Schools to position itself for the future.ÿþþHe added the pandemic, ÿmore than anything,ÿ made clear that it is essential to get students back into the physical classroom.þþÿA responsible solution is within reach, but only if negotiations restart now,ÿ Ginther said.
Source: abcnews.go.com
