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Cooper makes new negotiation offer, Republicans continue to leave teachers behind

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The following is a press release from the office of Governor Roy Cooper

RALEIGH: Months after the start of school, Republican legislative leaders are passing yet another sweeping corporate tax cut, but they still have not done anything to raise teacher pay. Last week, Governor Roy Cooper shared a letter to Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger and Speaker Tim Moore offering to negotiate teacher pay raises “independent of other elements of the budget.”

Governor Cooper has said piecemeal budgets are not an effective way to fund state needs, but he told Republican leaders via letter last Friday and during phone conversations this week that if they are going to continue down the “mini budget” path, then teacher pay should be negotiated. Governor Cooper’s July compromise offer proposed an 8.5% teacher pay raise, but Republicans want to give teachers just 3.8% – less than what other state employees have been given.

Republican leaders have not accepted the Governor’s offer to negotiate teacher pay raises independent of the rest of the budget. Senate Majority Leader Republican Harry Brown incorrectly told WRAL yesterday that “there had been no discussions on that topic with Gov. Roy Cooper,” and continued to point to a made-up ultimatum that Republicans have used as an excuse not to negotiate with the Governor.

“I’ve offered to negotiate teacher pay raises separately from the rest of the budget so that hardworking teachers can finally get the raises they deserve, and it’s disappointing that Republican leaders have not accepted my offer,” said Governor Cooper. “Teachers shouldn’t be caught up in Raleigh politics while other state employees get raises.”

In addition to teachers, Governor Cooper’s letter offered to negotiate salaries for non-certified local school personnel, UNC and community college employees.

To read the Governor’s letter, click HERE. To see a comparison of Governor Cooper’s proposed teacher pay raises and the legislature’s click HERE.