A new report shows Louisiana teachers make an average of 4,000 dollars a year less than their peers in other southern states. Last year the gap was just 2,300 dollars but Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says nearby states approved significant pay hikes. Now state teachers are stuck with pandemic workloads at low pay.
“Most teachers we have been speaking to will tell you they are actually doing sometimes it feels like the work or the job of two sometimes three different people,” said Carter.
This comes despite a $1,200 pay raise last year. Carter says while Louisiana was busy catching up other nearby states were busying pushing further ahead.
Carter said there’s a real reason to be concerned that the pay gap will result in Louisiana teachers leaving. He says we already see it within the state where pay varies significantly from parish to parish.
“We see teachers and school employees relocating to the parishes where they get higher pay for the same kind of work we are doing,” said Carter.
Carter said given the current economic climate it will be difficult to close that gap unless the feds come through with another pandemic bailout package for states.
“Unless we get federal stimulus money for local and state governments it is going to be hard to see us at least come close to reaching any kind of salary that will be commiserate with us gaining $4,000,” said Carter.
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