Evening star., 1946-12-15


One of the first hare-ups Of dis
satisfaction with current salary
ranges caused the closing of rs high
and grammar schools in Paterson,
N. j., In February. OF the 789
teachers, 624 reported Ill when their
demand fol-, cost-of- living bonuses
of $500 to $3.50 was refused. Back at
work the next day, they began a
house-to-house drive for support.
At Norwalk, Conn, there was an
eight-day hiatus in August. The
Board OF Education and the Norwalk
Teachers Union agreed on salary
schedule for 1916 but the Norwalk
tax body refused to vote SUFFICIENT
funds. The teachers declined to
sign contracts at lower salaries. The
impasse ended after the State edu-
cation commissioner threatened to
seize the schools. An agreement
was made whereby two-thirds OF the
necessary funds were allotted to the
teachers and the board entered into
a collective bargaining agreement
for negotiation of future contracts.
Rural Teachers on Strike.
After the opening of school, about
100 rural teachers in Portsmouth,
Ohio, who had signed contracts for
the year, struck for an increase OF
$500 per year. They returned to
work four days later, after receiving
the promise Of increased pay.
Rural district teachers at Wilkes
Barre and East Conemaugh, Pa,
also struck for salary increases and
the board agreed to make regular
payments on back pay due them,
with interest, and to consider salary
increases for the next year.
At Rankin, Pa, teachers strike
for $400 annual increase, plus sick
leave, failed and the teachers re-
turned to school, but the students
thereupon struck briefly in sympathy.
At McMinnville, Tenn, 38 schools
were closed by a strike of teachers
and bus drivers to enforce demands
for a $25-per-month increase on an
existing monthly range from $50 to
$50. The schools at Fort Dodge,
Iowa, followed suit. Similarly, at
Shelbyville, Tenn, 28 of 20 teachers
struck for $25 monthly increase.
Salaries averaged $135 month.
City ofncials announced they would
seek to raise money to meet the
demands, and schools reopened.
At Muscoda, Wis, five teachers and
their students staged a one-day
walkout after a petition for a 5000
cost-of-living bonus was turned
down.
Raise Won at Minneapolis.
A threatened strike at Minneapolis,
Mimi, was averted after teachers
accepted a settlement giving them
ultimate salary raises of as much
as 200.
Successful, too, was the lone school
teacher at Sabbatus, Me. After stag
ing a halliday strike she was no
longer required to do janitorial work
and was to be driven by auto to and
from school daily. At Uniontown,
Pa, 1l2 teachers won $400 increases
after a month-long strike.
St. Paul, Mimi, Teachers have
not been as fortunate. One thousand
of the 1,165 teachers under contract
struck, demanding 5000 in lieu OF
increases for the fall months OF
1916; an annual salary ranging from
$2,A0o to 5000 beginning in Janu-
ary. III
The current salary scale runs from
81 800 to a top of $4,000. Various
proposals for settlement have been
made but these teachers are still
out and the schoolhouses are being
picketed. The city considers the
demands beyond its present -re-
sources.
In Pennsylvania, 10 schools at
Shamokin closed when teachers de-
manded a $500 bonus and yearly
increases in salaries. Striking teach
ers OF Central Falls, r. l., and
Johnstown, Pa, made similar de-
mands.
New Castle, Del, County teachers,
$50 strong, have drafted resolution
calling for a. wa1kout February !
unless the State Legislature, which
convenes January l, gives them q
minimum of $2,400 a year. The
teachers at Dayton, Ohio, have
voted to strike January If they
are not granted salary increases, and
the Mems Teachers Club of Hart
ford, Conn, voted a work stoppage
in January If their request for an
immediate cost-of living adjustment
is refused.
$2,4O0 Minimum Asked.
ct Pawtucket, r. l., the schools
were ordered closed December 8, tn
anticipation Of q teachers strike
Teachers asked for revised salary
schedule which, in some cases. would
mean $500 a year more. The School
Committee refused the demand
but voted 5000 increase for all city
employees, including teachers. The
schools opened two days later after
the Governor intervened. Wage
negotiations were resumed.
Buffalo, N. Y, teachers associa-
tions urged the Board Of Education
to set 2,400 minimum and $4,000
maximum for teachers in order to
halt the exodus of teachers from
Buffalo"
There has been considerable agita-
tion for salary and cost-of-living
raises in other communities. In