HB1006: Amendments Will Lower Classified Employees Hourly Pay

HB 1006: An Act to Provide for a Consistent Rate of Increase to the Salaries of Classified School Employees threatens to reduce the minimum salary for new classified school personnel. It may also lower all classified school employees annual salary increase.

The original bill, enacted in 2001, set the minimum wage for classified school personnel at $6.25. In 2003, language was added that gave employees an annual Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) increase in the minimum wage, which typically amounts to about a 3% raise each year.  Since then, the COLAs have increased the classified employees minimum hourly wage to $7.38.

The proposed amendments would drop that minimum wage back to $6.25 – a $1.13 per hour cut in pay – for new employees. Those already employed would retain their current salary; however, it is estimated that their COLA would be reduced to approximately 1.8 to 1.9%, the percentage used by the legislature to determine the teacher salary component of the per pupil foundation funding for school districts.

AEA encourages you to contact the House Education Committee representatives and encourage them to vote AGAINST HB 1006. Click here to find Committee members’ names e-mail and contact information. 

http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/R/Pages/CommitteeDetail.aspx?committeecode=810

Please send an e-mail to committee members or leave your message for each legislator at (501-682-6211).

Rally Reminder: Affordable Health Care for Arkansas Educators
The AEA will hold a rally January 24, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the steps of the State Capitol. Please join your fellow educators as we advocate for increased health insurance funding. Only together can we obtain the resources we need to raise the employer contribution for health insurance. Please contact your local president and let her or him know that you will attend the rally. Also, find out how your local association will be involved in the rally. See you there! Act Now!