‘Just asking for enough’: CMS teachers walk out for better pay, benefits

CHARLOTTE — Teachers across North Carolina called out in protest to advocate for better pay and benefits Wednesday.

The group behind the movement, N.C. Teachers in Action, is demanding increased pay for teachers with advanced degrees, longevity pay for experienced teachers and a cap on health care premiums.

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The walkout is part of a coordinated effort happening across the state. Teachers say it’s not just about visibility. It’s about pushing for change they say is long overdue.

“Every teacher that I know is passionate about what they do, but every year it just gets harder for us to do it,” former CMS teacher Megan Hill told Channel 9’s Miana Massey.

CMS teachers say the passion that drew then to education hasn’t faded, but growing demand and stagnant wages just aren’t sustainable.

“I don’t think anything we are asking for is astronomical,” Jade Morris, a teacher at Mint Hill Middle School, said. “We are just asking for enough to be able to sustain a livable wage in the city that we are teaching and to be able to have manageable healthcare to be able to provide for our families.”

North Carolina remains the only state without a full budget in place, operating under a temporary spending plan and leaving classrooms in limbo.

“We just want to see some improvement and some change, and the idea of walking away is really hard for a lot of us,” Mint Hill Middle School teacher Ken Dailey said.

Teachers say this is a sustained effort. They have already scheduled walkouts on the 7th of each month through April.

CMS sent out a statement before Wednesday’s protest, saying they do not endorse posts promoting the teacher walkout. The district also says a teacher’s presence is vital for all students’ wellbeing.

Channel 9 also reached out to state lawmakers about the effort but have yet to receive a response.

VIDEO: Union County teachers protest for better pay