Big News from NYC & DC? Meh.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced he will “freeze” salaries and avert 4,400 teacher layoffs. One unidentified union leader called the proposal a ”stunt.”
It’s a stunt, all right, and not just because Bloomberg can’t take unilateral action on a collective bargaining agreement. What kind of pay “freeze” results in an average salary increase of 3.3%?
It’s a stunt, all right, and not just because Bloomberg can’t take unilateral action on a collective bargaining agreement. What kind of pay “freeze” results in an average salary increase of 3.3%?
The mayor’s move does not entirely freeze teachers’ pay. Teachers typically receive an annual raise and “step increases” for seniority and for earning advanced degrees or academic credits. Teachers will still receive step increases, which can range from around $400 at the beginning of a career to more than $8,000 for teachers who reach 20 years. Teacher salaries would still go up an
