CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) -
Local teachers and activists rally against Gov.Nikki Haley. They say one of her vetoes, affecting teacher pay raises, is unfair. The Restore Teacher Salaries organization has begun a campaign to raise awareness and ask the public for help.
"There are some very basic promises that are made when we come into this profession. When even that is taken away, we have 50% of teachers who quit within the first five years because the pay does not match the work," Restore Teacher Salaries Director Patrick Hayes said.
Nearly two dozen teachers and education supporters gathered at Charleston County Public Library after the Governor vetoed the funding of $10 million to pay for teacher raises.
Longtime school teacher Brooke Macguire calls the veto discouraging.
"It makes me feel disrespected as an educator. We're getting the children ready for the people and the industries that she's trying to bring over. We're the ones that teach them math and reading and get them ready for those jobs," Macguire said.
Gov. Haley says she did not oppose the raises, but she was against the $10 million in funding because it could only pay the raises one time and not year after year.
Supporters say they will fight to see teachers salaries restored and they say they need your help to contact lawmakers.
"What needs to happen is two-thirds of the House and two-thirds of the Senate need to vote to override the veto, and we are calling senators, calling representatives today and tomorrow, to tell them we need that done," Hayes said.
Right now in Charleston County, teachers have been promised a two step raise and a 2% cost of living increase by the school board. Live 5 News reached out to the school district to see if Gov. Haley's veto will affect that, but phone calls have not been returned.
Gov. Haley's budget kept $39 million to pay for teacher raises. She says if the $10 million dollars for teacher raises came from a recurring source that would go into the budget each year, she would have supported it.
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