Miami-Dade teachers outraged over plan to defer pay
After intense debate, the Miami-Dade School Board today approved Superintendent Alberto Carvalho's plan to balance the district budget by slashing $56 million in spending. The vote opened the door for Carvalho to begin negotiations about moving paid work days from the current fiscal year -- which ends June 30 -- to the next fiscal year, when Carvalho expects the district will have more money. Employees would be paid for those days sometime after July 1.
''This is our best thinking to avoid the catastrophic conditions imposed on the school system,'' Carvalho said, adding that the plan would enable the district to avoid layoffs.
After the vote, United Teachers of Dade President Karen Aronowitz vowed to fight any attempts to move employee work days. The union can declare an impasse.
''The layoffs are a scare tactic,'' Aronowitz said. "We were sold out by School Board members who promised to protect our contracts. This is telling people to work on a promise.''
As the School Board debated the budget cuts, about 700 teachers protested outside -- many with cowbells, signs and whistles.
As the School Board debated the budget cuts, about 700 teachers protested outside -- many with cowbells, signs and whistles.
They chanted ''No teacher left behind!'' and temporarily formed a conga line along Northeast 15th Street in front of the Miami-Dade School Board Administration building.
(Via Miami Herald)
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