x
Breaking News
More () »

Is lack of union membership behind low teacher wages in Pinellas County?

"Teachers have that same opportunity they just all don't join the union. Everyone knows that there is power in numbers."
Credit: Mitchell, Samantha

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - When the Pinellas County Sheriff's office announced this week that it's hiring school resource deputies, something caught our eye.

The starting pay for a deputy is more than the starting pay for a teacher.

10News wanted to know how long it would for a teacher to make the same salary as a starting deputy.

Here’s what we found:

  • The starting pay for school resource deputies in Pinellas County is $46,410.
  • The starting salary for a Pinellas County teacher is $43,000.

Teachers don't see a raise until their sixth year, and even then, it's only $688.

It takes 12 years for teachers to make a salary close to the starting salary of a school resource deputy - $46,492.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office says comparing salaries of teachers and deputies is like comparing apples to oranges.

Mike Gandolfo, president of the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association, said the salary difference is due to deputies having a stronger union.

Only half of Pinellas County teachers are part of the PCTA. If there were more members, the organization would have more bargaining power, Gandolfo said.

“I would never begrudge my union brothers and sisters in blue for making the money that they make because they're smart to all join their union," he said. "They're union is strong so they have the bargaining power to get those salaries at a decent rate. Teachers have that same opportunity they just all don't join the union. Everyone knows that there is power in numbers.”

PCTA's annual membership dues is $658, which many teachers cannot afford, Gandolfo said.

MORE: Salary schedule for instructional staff.

Because not enough teachers are in a union - district and state officials say the union doesn't adequately represent Florida's teachers.

Florida's teachers unions negotiate for worker's rights for every employee at a school, including non-union members.

Under a new bill signed by Gov. Rick Scott, teachers unions can lose their certification if 50 percent of eligible teachers are not due-paying union members.

If membership falls below 50 percent, the union will have to go through an expensive and tough reapplication process.

The new rules only apply to teachers unions.

If you have questions or concerns on another story, email Shannon Valladolid Shannonv@wtsp.com

Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 10 News app now.

Have a news tip? Email tips@wtsp.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.

Before You Leave, Check This Out