LITTLE ROCK, AR – Members of the Little Rock Education Association picketed outside of the Little Rock School District Administration building Thursday evening, hoping present a united front in advance of salary negotiations.
"We will not start school next fall without a financial agreement," said LREA President Kathy Koehler. "We will not go nine months being tread on repeatedly by this district."
Nine months of failed salary negotiations is now bringing teachers, custodians, security officers and other district employees out to picket for higher pay the night before a federal mediator steps in to help the district find a solution.
"We will find resolution," said Koehler. "It would just be great if we could find it sooner rather than later."
"I just want what's fair. What equal for everybody. It's not fair that some people get raises and others don't," said kindergarten teacher Anna Wierciak.
"My teachers, staff members, security people, all of us have a right to have a raise," added English teacher Susan Merry.
And with less than five weeks left in the school year, time to speak up is running out.
LREA and the school district will meet with a federal mediator Friday morning, hoping to come to an agreement after months of failed negotiations.
