HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — A Hillsborough County teachers union said they had a victory after an impasse over a pay dispute for school district employees.
This comes after contract talks hit a rough patch last July.
The Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association said a hearing officer issued a recommendation ruling in their favor in its dispute with Hillsborough County Public Schools over step payments for employees.
"While it is understandable that the District needs to be a good steward of public tax money and needs to make wise decisions in that regard; it is equally true that a public school district cannot serve its constituents properly without the dedicated and competent work of its employees," said the report from Special Magistrate James D. Stokes.
Stokes recommended that the district make the salary adjustment for the 2022-23 year a recurring step increase, retroactive to July 1, 2022.
The special magistrate also recommended that the $1,000, $2,000, and $3,000 recurring supplement for those with applicable advanced degrees be included in the district’s compensation plan.
"Quite frankly, these employees deserve it even more," said Rob Kriete, the President of the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association. "This job is harder than ever before."
Kriete said this is one of the biggest wins they've ever had for their employees in Hillsborough County.
"It's absolutely about the retention and the recruitment of teachers. We want them to know what they're going to make when they come here and making good on what we say we're going to pay them, and this decision absolutely helps that," said Kriete. "We believe it's going to help staff our classrooms better in the 23-24 school year."
A school district spokesperson told ABC Action News the recommendation aligns with everyone's belief that teachers should always be compensated for the heroic jobs they do every day, while explaining that the Superintendent does not believe the magistrate's recommendation offers any rationale given the district's financial health.
The district said once a proposal is approved, they will ensure the salary increases are in their employees' hands as soon as possible. According to the district, they and HCTA will come together to finalize the elements of the magistrate's recommendation and other negotiated items that were already agreed upon by the district, then HCTA members will need to ratify the proposal and the board will subsequently vote on it.
