Ryan Patterson
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Kelly Miller was one of about 50 people who demonstrated in demand of better pay Monday at the Racine Unified School District administrative service campus. |
RACINE — Educators demonstrated Monday to demand pay next school year that keeps up with the cost of living.
About 50 people from two unions made their presence felt with signs and chanting before the Racine Unified School District Board meeting.
Chants included “Pay us or lose us,” “Educators deserve a living wage” and “Retain, don’t retrain.”
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Dulce Cervantes, from right, Dawn Glasier and Amanda Schwartz were some of the teachers who demonstrated Monday at the Racine Unified School District administrative service campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. |
Members of Racine Educators United, the union representing RUSD instructors, and Service Employees International Union Wisconsin, the union representing RUSD building service employees such as custodians, maintenance workers and engineers, want base wage increases of 2.63% next school year to keep pace with rising costs.
According to the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission, 2.63% is the applicable inflation rate for one-year collective bargaining agreements that begin July 1, which is when the REU and SEIU deals will start.
That inflation rate is also known as a cost of living adjustment, or COLA.
Teachers also want a salary step increase in 2026-27. The step increase, also called a rung, is based on educators’ years of service.
Educators believe that keeping experienced workers helps students and is less costly for the school district than hiring and training new employees.
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Spencer Carlson, from right, Maddie Kelly and Christie Bartow were three of the teachers who demonstrated in demand of better pay Monday at the Racine Unified School District administrative service campus. |
“We know these are tough economic times, but we have faith that the board and the administration recognize the value of front-line workers that keep the district running and that they’ll honor all of our hard work with COLA and a step,” said REU President Angelina Cruz.
RUSD and the unions have not yet exchanged base wage proposals.
The school board met in executive session Monday to discuss base wage negotiations, according to the meeting agenda, but did not vote on anything.
The school district and two unions are scheduling the date of the initial exchange.
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Mike Bellagio, Racine Unified School District Board member, right, talks with employees demonstrating for better pay Monday at the RUSD administrative service campus. |
Base wage agreements require approval from the RUSD Board.
Board President Jane Barbian wrote in an email that the board is “always looking for ways to recruit and retain high quality staff for our schools.”
“This means being as competitive as possible in our wage negotiations, and as our budget allows,” Barbian wrote “We understand that a quality workforce is needed to drive the district initiatives.”
RUSD educators and building service employees received 2.95% base wage increases this school year, 2% raises in 2024-25 and 8% increases in 2023-24.
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| demonstrated Monday to demand better pay next school year. |
Union members will likely demonstrate at the school board’s June 1 work session and June 15 business meeting if a deal is not reached by those dates.
“We’ll be back!” employees chanted while leaving.
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