AFT’s Weingarten Responds to Betsy DeVos on Teacher Salaries

WASHINGTON—AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement after Education Secretary Betsy DeVos raised the important issue of teacher salaries at the Education Writers Association National Seminar.

“It’s great that Betsy finally thinks higher teacher salaries are important. More than a decade ago, when I was president of the United Federation of Teachers in New York City, we were able to bargain $100,000 for teachers who had a couple of decades of experience. While we disagreed on other things, Mayor Bloomberg and I worked hard to get that done.

“I’d be delighted if Betsy wants to get all teachers close to $200,000—they deserve that—and so much more. Let’s start by using a proposal like the one from Kamala Harris, who is actually with us today visiting public schools in Detroit and Dearborn and listening to the educators who teach our children. We could do this if Betsy worked with us to revoke tax cuts for rich people. She won’t even have to give up the summer homes and the yachts.”