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San Diego Teachers Union Works to Up Pay From Bottom of Scale

San Diego school board members have agreed to reopen contract negotiations with the teachers union. KPBS reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.

San Diego Teachers Union Works to Up Pay From Bottom of Scale

San Diego school board members have agreed to reopen contract negotiations with the teachers union. KPBS reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.

The San Diego teachers union is working under a two-year contract, but has a provision to reopen negotiations on wages. Labor leaders plan to push yet again for more money.

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About six months ago, the district gave teachers a 5.7 percent raise.

Union leader Carol Wheeler says teachers are just trying bring local salaries up-to-speed with other county school districts.

Wheeler : You and all of us lose highly qualified educators every year to other nearby districts due to our failure to provide decent salaries.

San Diego teachers are at the bottom of the pay scale compared to other county school districts. In the past, San Diego school district officials have said they can't pay teachers more because they're not getting extra funding from the state.

The school board's vote to reopen talks is considered a formality.

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Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.