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Teachers and support staff tell board staffing, pay and safety concerns must be addressed
Summary
Union and education support professional leaders reported bargaining activity, low wages, rising healthcare costs, unfilled positions and on‑the‑job safety incidents; they urged the board to prioritize compensation and affordable benefits before the contract expires Dec. 31.
Union and education support professional leaders used the board meeting to press district leaders on pay, staffing and workplace safety.
Fred Klein, speaking for the Ann Arbor Education Association, praised student journalism awards but emphasized bargaining work that centered on safety and distribution of one‑time state educator compensation funds. He said the association’s compensation survey found many veteran teachers earn $10,000–$20,000 less than peers in comparable districts and that healthcare out‑of‑pocket costs have risen sharply.
Claire Arthur, president of AEAP (education support professionals), described staffing shortages in after‑school childcare, large numbers of teaching‑assistant transfers into more demanding roles, frequent use of substitutes, and reports that some support staff have been assaulted on the job. AEAP asked the board to endorse the Education Support Professionals Bill of Rights and to pursue steps to improve wages, benefits and safety training.
Leaders noted bargaining sessions are under way; the current contract cycle and the district’s financial posture were cited as determining factors in negotiations. Trustees and the superintendent acknowledged the reports and said bargaining and collaborative councils are ongoing.
What’s next: AAEA reported its next financial bargaining session is scheduled for Dec. 1; the district’s contract expires Dec. 31, and both sides said they intend to continue negotiations.
