What’s a teacher to do?

First, they asked nicely and with respect, and got no response.

Then the teachers went to the chalk board and wrote succinctly and plainly why they deserved to get a pay raise. North Carolina teachers are the lowest paid in the South. And since 2011, the General Assembly has systematically cut teacher benefits and given them lower than inflation pay raises. The average teacher pay of $58,292 ranks 43^rd in the U.S. - $13,738 less than the national average.

The legislature hemmed and hawed. The Senate passed a budget with a token teacher pay raise. The House budget was more generous, but the two chambers couldn’t reach agreement. Nothing was done. The legislature, unable to reach a budget agreement, adjourned.

And it’s not just teachers that aren’t getting pay increases. All state employees’ pay is stalled.

We’re told that nothing is likely to be done until early next year when the legislature convenes.

Frustrated at the prospect that their pay won’t even be considered until next year, some teachers decided to stage a walk out, calling in sick. Not many participated, it was not disruptive and had no impact.

This is a good place to say that we generally don’t like actions like employee walkouts, believing that better communications can help in resolving issues. But resolutions require the input and willingness of both sides to find solutions. The recent track record of our legislature indicates they aren’t interested in public school teachers. They prefer spending large sums of money to give private school scholarships, while literally ignoring our traditional public schools.

What’s a teacher to do?

Let’s consider what is really the big bottleneck with increasing teacher pay? It seems to be the State Senate. That means the issue ultimately resides with Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger. If Berger wanted to pay teachers more, it would happen.

Someone suggested that instead of conducting a statewide walkout now, when the legislature isn’t even in session, maybe a better approach might be for teachers to unite in Senator Berger’s Senate district. He has a very serious primary challenge for the March 3^th election next year. Berger might be much more receptive to listening to teachers if he believed they might impact the outcome of that election.

Our teachers deserve better. Our legislature, along with the rest of the state, expects teachers to work each day doing their jobs. Shouldn’t we also expect the legislature to do their jobs? When they can pass a mini budget but can’t consider their employees, our lawmakers aren’t doing their jobs.

Tom Campbell is a Hall of Fame North Carolina broadcaster and columnist who has covered North Carolina public policy issues since 1965.  Contact him at tomcamp@ncspin.com