BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) "We should have had a new contract 3 years ago."
Phil Rumore, head of the Buffalo Teachers Federation expressing frustration over the lack of a new contract for about 3800 teachers in Buffalo.
"We are tens of thousands of dollars behind teachers in surrounding
districts and other city school districts." Rumore claims the district
is sitting on a 280 million dollar surplus and the time is now to negotiate
better compensation for teachers.
The union was presented a contract offer in March, under former Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash. "It included two years with no increases, and other years with three to five percent increases. It called for teachers to work a longer school year and it required teachers to pay 20% of their health care," said Rumore.
He called it insulting and degrading. "Teachers would actually be making less money because of inflation and the cost of living."
The contract negotiations are coming at a time when a high number of teachers are leaving the profession.
"The stress that teachers have been under since the pandemic has been excruciating," said Rumore. "The district had teachers working virtually and in-person at the same time."
There is currently a teacher shortage and Rumore predicts it will be getting worse as fewer students are entering teaching programs.
Dozens of Buffalo teachers held an informational picket earlier this week before a Buffalo School Board meeting at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts on Masten Avenue.
"If you're a teacher, are you going to choose to go to a district where you can get 15-thousand dollars more per year and feel respected? Or, are you going to come here?" he asked.
The district and teachers are scheduled to meet Thursday, April 28. Rumore is hoping a different proposal will be presented by the district that reflects
appreciation of the interim Superintendent and school board.
"It has been much easier working with Dr. Tonja Williams,"added Rumore. "She
has taken some initiatives that have been long overdue."