Edithe Fulton, vice president of the New Jersey Education Association, has taught elementary school for 34 years. She said the bonus policy undermines attempts by union locals to bargain with school boards. The new policy from the 2.5 million-member NEA was adopted on voice vote by the 10,000 delegates attending the Chicago conference. A local would not be kept from imposing such a plan on itself as part of bargaining with school boards. Union members who supported the policy change said the shift toward some form of bonus pay structure was inevitable.
Teachers are terribly underpaid.
People are seeking any way teacher compensation can be improved. She said it is better to have teachers involved in crafting the plans rather than fighting them. Teacher cash incentives have grown in popularity around the country as business leaders and politicians frequently call for higher standards in primary education. Various incentive plans have been proposed in New York City and in California, giving teachers higher salaries or bonuses for performance. CNN Correspondent Maria Hinojosa and The Associated Press contributed to this report.