TEACHERS PICKET FOR PAY RAISE THEY SAY THEY 'CAN'T SURVIVE' ON 2.5% OFFER.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer PEARBLOSSOM - About 150 people picketed outside the Keppel Union School District board meeting to protest a contract offered to teachers and a stalemate stale·mate n. 1. A situation in which further action is blocked; a deadlock. 2. A drawing position in chess in which the king, although not in check, can move only into check and no other piece can move. tr.v. in negotiations. Joined by teachers from other school districts, Keppel instructors held signs and chanted, ``There is no pride in 2.5'' and ``We can't survive on 2.5,'' referring to the district's offer of a maximum 2.5 percent salary increase. ``We wanted to let the board members know that we are here and willing to do what it takes to get what we deserve, which is a fair compensation package,'' teacher Cyndi Denning said. The protest took place before the board's meeting Thursday. Teachers came from Eastside Union, Palmdale and Southern Kern Kern, river, 155 mi (249 km) long, rising in the S Sierra Nevada Mts., E Calif., and flowing south, then southwest to a reservoir in the extreme southern part of the San Joaquin valley. The river has Isabella Dam as its chief facility. Unified school districts A unified school district is a school district which includes both primary school (kindergarten through middle school or junior high) and high school (grades 9-12). In Illinois, these districts are called unit school districts. to help out. Keppel has about 145 teachers. The district has offered the union a 2.5 percent increase that could be taken either as a pay hike or applied toward paying for health benefits. The teachers are seeking a 4 percent raise and a $1,000 increase to the maximum the district pays annually for health insurance. An impasse im·passe n. 1. A road or passage having no exit; a cul-de-sac. 2. A situation that is so difficult that no progress can be made; a deadlock or a stalemate: reached an impasse in the negotiations. was declared in contract talks in January and both sides will meet with a state mediator mediator n. a person who conducts mediation. A mediator is usually a lawyer, or retired judge, but can be a non-attorney specialist in the subject matter (like child custody) who tries to bring people and their disputes to early resolution through a conference. . District officials Friday declined to comment. ``At this time we are not prepared to make any statement but at some point we will,'' Assistant Superintendent Assistant Superintendent, or Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), was a rank used by police forces in the British Empire. It was usually the lowest rank that could be held by a European officer, most of whom joined the police at this rank. Steve Doyle Stephen "Steve" Doyle (born June 2, 1958 in Neath, Wales) was a professional footballer who played for Preston North End, Huddersfield Town, Sunderland, Hull City & Rochdale. said. Denning said the Keppel Union Teachers Association has formed a political action committee that will field candidates for Keppel school board elections. ``We will now be actively involved in upcoming school board elections,'' Denning said. ``We feel at this point there's no check in the checks and balances.'' Denning said a child had a picket sign that said, ``I want to be my mom's second job.'' Denning said some teachers have to work two jobs to make ends meet. ``That really tells you a lot when fully college-educated people are having to carry two or three jobs,'' Denning said. Keppel instructors have not had a raise in four years, union officials said. They say the district annually loses about one-third of its teachers to other districts with more attractive compensation packages. Karen Maeshiro, (661) 267-5744 karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com |
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