Corrections in bold.

By Eliza PARTIKA

The Glendale Teachers Association (GTA) held a gathering called “Rally for Respect” before the Glendale Unified School District meeting on Tuesday where they demanded a living wage from the district. Wages for GUSD teachers are in the lowest quartile, the bottom 25%, among all LA county schools, said Taline Arsenian, GTA president.

Hundreds of parents and teachers, dressed in red to represent bargaining, gathered around the front entrance of the District office chanting “Fair wages now!” Parents and teachers spoke about their struggles with pay and encouraged attending supporters to sign their petition, which was on a clipboard and passed among the crowd.

By the end of the program, several had signed the petition.

GUSD teachers are concerned about their ability to afford to live in Glendale and are afraid students are paying the price. Over the last two years of bargaining, Arsenian said the District has only offered a pay increase of 8%, which is not in line with inflation. Out of a budget of approximately $49 million for this academic year, Arsenian said it’s within the District’s budget to allot more to teachers’ salaries.

“They have offered us, over two years, something lower than what most school districts have received just last year. That’s not good enough. That is not competitive,” she said. “We don’t want all of it, we just want to be able to make a living wage.”

One parent, Angie, came to the podium to praise teachers for their work with her daughter.

“Like so many in our District, I know firsthand the essential service of our teachers and staff. We were welcomed into GUSD and my child has thrived each year. My child is a kid who will tell you she hates school but if you get her talking, you will hear stories about teachers who grab her attention, inspire her and motivate her to excel with their humor, passion and expertise,” she said.

Arsenian reiterated Angie’s sentiments that the majority of parents are pleased with their experiences at GUSD.

“Everybody on campus [who] has a connection with a student is working to help that student on their educational growth and knowledge. We are grateful for all you do for our students,” she said.