I work in corrections education and we have a pay discrepancy between teachers. We all must be certified, attend the same training, and even teach the same students. However some are paid significantly more on a teacher step. The full time teachers not on the step make thousands less.
My coworker started a year before their counterpart who teaches the same subject at a different institution. My coworker makes 20,000 less a year because they aren't on the step.
The teacher step recognizes experience and education level. For those who wondered 🙂
So my coworker called the superintendent and got the same song and dance we always get. “We're working on it”.
This time it really stung because they are raising pay for inexperienced, new officers with just a diploma, to 48,800. That's a lot more than the non step teachers like us make.
It's a non-union state, and although many of us have contacted attorneys over the years, no lawyer will touch it. They say “find another job”.
So guess what? My staff will be quitting at the end of our school year, and the program will fold at our school. We are all looking for jobs. They've promised us step pay for years and never manage to do it. I didn't go to school for a masters degree to get out paid by inexperienced staff with no education.
The officers totally deserve a raise. But so do the education and support staff. The officers totally deserve a good paying salary. They have no plans to bump anyone's pay except officers. So yea public school here I come. Fewer days for more annual pay.
It sucks because I really feel the inmates deserve the second chance we provide them. They need the education and vocational training. And the state says “yes education is important ” then pulls this shit and tells us tough for you.
Now you won't have a program at all. Welp. I guess they should have seen it coming.
Am I right to do leave?
Edited to add: this is a throwaway screen name . I don't want to lose my job over a social media post and I very well could because that's how our employer rolls.