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Monthly Archives: December 2024

Blog: Top Three Ways to Secure the Bag for Your Community

Posted on December 16, 2024 - 12:09 pm by

by LaTwyla Mathias

1. Raise the Minimum Wage

Look, y’all already know that we’ve been advocating for raising the minimum wage for years. If you’re reading this, then you know it is crucial to ensuring economic equity and stability for workers. A higher minimum wage can help lift individuals and families out of poverty, which is good for everybody! But it also can help everyone gain financial independence, which can mean better housing, better transportation, and a better life. It also stimulates the economy, which benefits our communities. Raising the minimum wage is a no brainer! 

2. Collective Bargaining

If you believe in the community, then you know that collective bargaining is essential to empowering workers and ensuring fair treatment in the workplace. Collective bargaining provides workers with a unified voice to negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions, fostering a more equitable balance of power between workers and employers. Y’all know we love unions over here! Collective bargaining enhances job security, promotes workplace safety, and often leads to improved productivity and morale by addressing workers’ needs. Additionally, collective bargaining strengthens YOUR VOICE in the workplace, giving workers a platform to participate in decisions that affect their livelihoods. 

3. Paid Sick Leave 

Listen, we all get sick. Having paid sick leave protects not only our health but everyone else’s health.  Paid sick leave allows employees to take necessary time off to recover from illness or care for a sick family member without risking losing their livelihood. Paid sick leave helps prevent the spread of contagious illnesses in workplaces and communities, creating healthier environments for everyone. Paid sick leave is especially critical for low-wage and frontline workers, who often face the most significant barriers to accessing such benefits. We learned this the hard way in 2020. We can prioritize the well-being of individuals and families which benefits everyone. 

Blog: Why Virginia’s Teachers Deserve More Than Apples

Posted on December 6, 2024 - 1:55 pm by

by Ashleigh Crocker

Virginia loves to brag about being the best state for business. But while corporations are cashing in, teachers—the people shaping the future of our communities—are getting left behind. 

Did you know Virginia pays its teachers below the national average? Yep, we rank 24th in the nation for educator pay, with an average salary of $63,103, while the national average is $69,544. When adjusted for inflation, teacher pay has actually gone down in recent years. 

Regina George from the movie Mean Girls (2004) saying, "It's so embarrassing. I don't even... whatever."

That’s embarrassing. It’s time to step up and pay teachers what they’re worth. Here are three reasons why raising teacher salaries isn’t just about fairness—it’s about our future.

1. Happy Teachers = Thriving Classrooms

Some people might say that teaching isn’t just a job, it’s a calling. But let’s be real—passion doesn’t pay the bills. Teachers are buying classroom supplies out of pocket, working second jobs, and stretching every penny, just so they can spend all their time with your kids instead of their own. When teachers are underpaid, burnout skyrockets, and turnover follows. This can be seen in the rising teacher shortages we have in Virginia. Our teacher vacancy rate is currently 4.74% statewide, and is higher in schools with mostly Black students and in high-poverty districts. Raising salaries would help retain experienced educators, creating stable, thriving classrooms for our kids. 

2. Better Teacher Pay Boosts Local Economies

When teachers earn more, it’s not just good for them—it’s great for our economy, small businesses, and our communities. Teachers are essential members of their communities, and when they have more spending power, that money flows back into local shops, restaurants, and services. Imagine the impact: better-paid teachers could mean more diners at your favorite local restaurant, more customers at the local hardware store, and more growth for Virginia’s small businesses. By raising teacher salaries, we’re not just investing in educators; we’re helping to build vibrant, economically resilient communities across the state.

3. Strong Schools = Strong Communities

Great teachers attract families to communities, raise property values, and prepare students to contribute to society. But when Virginia lowballs teacher salaries, we risk losing talented educators to other states or professions. By prioritizing teacher pay, we signal that we value education and are committed to building a stronger, smarter Virginia. And let’s be honest—we won’t be the best state for business for long when we can’t even support the people educating the next generation of workers. 

Time to Make the Grade

If Virginia wants to stay competitive, we can’t keep skimping on teacher pay. It’s not just about fairness; it’s about ensuring that every student gets the quality education they deserve. Let’s stop handing out apples and start writing checks. After all, great teachers build great futures—and that benefits all of us.

The question isn’t if we can afford to pay teachers more—it’s whether we can afford not to. During the upcoming legislative session, be sure to call your legislators and tell them you support increasing teacher salaries to at least match the national average!