Letters To The Editor

Sat., April 3, 1999

Teacher pay hike warranted

Being a public employee (i.e., my wages coming from tax dollars), I feel it is my responsibility to help the public understand why I, as an elementary school teacher, feel I need a pay increase to compensate for the spending power I’ve lost since 1992. I am not asking for your approval. This letter is just to inform.

My passions are reading and working with children. I feel blessed because my job, as an elementary reading teacher of 19 years, includes both. I teach because I love teaching but I don’t think it’s asking too much to also expect to receive a livable wage. By livable wage, I mean I should at least have the same buying power that I had back in 1992, which I don’t.

Let me explain. It has become harder and harder at the end of month to put healthy food on the table for my family of four. Also, when I went looking for a new car to replace my car which I’ve had for 10 years, I could not afford a new one. Back in 1988, I was able to buy a new car. There also was a time when my food money lasted until the end of the month.

At first I did not understand why this was happening, until it was pointed out to me that back in 1992 I had about $4,000 more spending power than I do now. In the last 10 years my cost of living raises have been minimal and what I did get was eaten up by the yearly increase in what I pay for health coverage. I believe it’s also important for it to be known that after year 15 until I retire I am and will be living on a fixed income, as my wage stays the same from year 15 to year 30-plus. The state offers no yearly pay increase of any kind after year 15. With many other state employees there is a cost-of-living raise built into their contract. This is not so with educational employees. Again this letter is just to inform you. Gail McCandless Spokane

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