Teachers tell Richmond: We need a pay raise

RICHMOND, Va. — About 300 educators in Virginia’s largest teachers’ union traveled to Richmond Monday, encouraging lawmakers to to include a pay raise in the budget.

Virginia Education Association president Jim Livingston said the teachers want to be heard on the topic, and believe that low pay has created short staffing across the Commonwealth.

State employees were supposed to get a 3 percent raise under the budget passed by lawmakers last session, but a budget shortfall caused those plans to be scrapped.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s budget proposal includes a 1.5 percent one-time bonus for state workers and teachers next year. The VEA says that’s not enough and is pushing for a 2 percent increase that is not tied to revenues.

Livingston penned a letter to legislative leaders stating that there is a “teacher crisis” in Virginia, with over 800 positions currently unfilled.

The average teacher salary in Warren County is $47, 161, which falls below the Virginia average teacher salary of $49, 826.  Virginia  ranks 29 of 51 across the country, according to figures from the Virginia Department of Education and the National Education Association.