Despite not getting desired pay increases NISD's teacher union says they'll keep fighting

SAN ANTONIO — Employees at one of San Antonio's largest school districts want a raise but the school board said right now they can't swing it.

Tuesday night Northside ISD board members voted not to give pay raises to support and classified members who didn't get a raise in January 2023.

This is when the ongoing debate between the district, its board members and the district's union, Northside AFT, first started.

The union said leaving out certain jobs was unacceptable, so they filed a grievance.

The school board made the decision to deny those raises. If it had been approved the union was asking for retroactive pay to be included for those who were not part of the initial pay raise.

NISD Superintendent Dr. John Craft said the estimated $6,200,000 this would cost them is tough to swing.

"I can tell you does not take into consideration compression, the compression of adjustments that will have to be made. So that would also be an additional cost that we would have to work through to make those adjustments," Dr. Craft said.

He did point out the upcoming budget may also have no additional revenue to address general pay raises.

Union President Melina Espiritu-Azocar said they're concerned about what they call 'inequitable pay increases.' She said they're fighting for at least $15 a hour.

“We're going to keep fighting the good fight, we're going to stand united with them. We're going to hold the district accountable. These are some of the hardest jobs and they what their compensation should look like they're doing those hardest jobs,” Espiritu-Azocar said.

Espiritu-Azocar says some of those support staff members include bus drivers, custodians, child nutrition, and staff maintenance to name a few.

Her message tonight is to prioritize these folks who are working with students and said these are critical jobs at every school district across San Antonio and should be valued as such.