Onslow News

A $350 bonus and step-based raises for teachers Senate Republicans support is facing backlash from Democrats and the North Carolina Association of Educators — the group that represents the teachers, the Carolina Journal reported on June 12.  

The Republican plan was rejected by Democratic lawmakers and the education association, the Carolina Journal reported, continuing the ongoing struggles over raising teachers' pay. 

In a post on Senate President Phil Berger's (R-Rockingham) Medium website, Republicans blamed Democrats and the association for rejecting a deal that provided $1,000 bonuses with a 4.9% salary increase. The post also said entities rejected a 3.9% pay increase for teachers. 

“Teachers should be furious that the advocacy group they send hundreds of dollars to each year rejected a pay raise because of political allegiance to Gov. [Roy] Cooper, leaving teachers with nothing," senior budget writer Sen. Harry Brown (R-Onslow) said in the post. "The NCAE should return its dues to members for such a failure."

In a statement on June 10, the education association President Mark Jewell said teachers are not being treated the same as other state employees.

The statement said that state employees will receive a scheduled 2.5% pay raise this year on top of the 2.5% awarded last year.

“The disrespect being shown to educators in this pay bill is egregious,” Jewell said in the statement. “… North Carolina educators were worth more last year, and we are worth more today.”