NCAE North Carolina Association of Educators
News Bulletin
February 2020
Vol. 50, No. 6
www.ncae.org
Educators Are Not Political Pawns! On January 14, the day legislators returned to Raleigh for a special session, NCAE made its message clear… “North Carolina educators have been used all year by Republican leaders as pawns in their crass political game, and we have had enough!” said President Mark Jewell, during a press conference held at the General Assembly. Joining NCAE leaders in the N.C. General Assembly Press Room were NCAE members, representatives of the Senate Democratic Caucus, Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue, and Senate Democrats. United in their opposition to a veto override, they all agreed with Governor Cooper that the special session was the perfect opportunity to pass a pay raise for educators. But lawmakers left Raleigh without addressing this urgent matter and aren’t scheduled to return until April. For more than six months, educators have gone without a much-needed raise due to lawmakers not passing a budget. And since action was not taken during the special session, they will go an entire year, if not longer, without compensation. In his call for the General Assembly to take meaningful action during the special session, Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue said, “Show educators we understand their true worth to the state. No one’s livelihood should be used as political leverage. Yet, that is the reality our educators have faced since the school year began. Every year we ask more and more of our educators. But now we are asking too much of them.” Following the press conference, members and supporters filled the galleries to hear the House and Senate sessions. The next day in a show of solidarity, several schools held walk-in activities (see page 4).
Above: Alamance Co. TA Erica Johnson speaks during the press conference. Left: Members and staffer Marge Foreman outside of the press room. Below: The color red could be seen throughout both chambers of the House and Senate.