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SCUC AFT Members Join Thousands to Win State Pay Raise


2009 Texas AFT Lobby Day

More than 1,000 educators rallied in Austin to urge lawmakers to reinvest in our public schools. In cooperation with Texas AFT, SCUC AFT conducted an outreach campaign called, “Don’t Shortchange Our Students!” asking all SCUC ISD teachers to sign an online petition and to join our cause by calling lawmakers asking them to use the federal recovery dollars appropriately to fund public schools. As a result of the hard work of many SCUC members and AFT members across the state, lawmakers passed House Bill (HB) 3646 which will provide a pay raise for all teachers, counselors, librarians, diagnosticians and nurses. The pay raise will range from $800 to $1,000 depending on the economic status of a local school district.

The average teacher salary for Texas teachers ranks 29th in the nation and even lower when compared to other employees in the state with similar education backgrounds. AFT mobilized an effective grassroots campaign aimed at increasing teacher pay statewide to keep up with inflation and rising healthcare costs.

“This is why I joined Texas AFT,” said Cari Weems, SCUC AFT chairperson. “AFT is and has always been the proactive voice for educators. When our schools are under attack from voucher legislation, excessive testing and budget cutbacks, AFT is there to take action to do what is right for our schoolchildren.”

The AFT campaign, “Don’t Shortchange Our Students!” has been hailed as a true success by teachers across the state. Lawmakers received thousands of petitions, letters, emails and phone calls which led to the passage of HB 3646. For more information about this bill or to sign up to receive Texas AFT legislative daily updates, visit www.texasaft.org.