The Board of Education of the City of St. Louis voted unanimously Dec. 14 to approve a recommendation from the administration to accelerate its plans to raise the district’s minimum wage to $15 per hour effective Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. The raise will be on the Jan. 21, paycheck.
The district presently pays $13 an hour, which exceeds the State’s requirement of $11.15. District leaders had planned to gradually reach a minimum wage of $15 per hour by January of 2023. However, in light of current local and national staffing challenges, the administration believes it is prudent to speed up the process for these essential workers who continue to serve students and staff so well during these challenging times.
The decision will impact members of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 420 and Laborers Local 42 employed by the district. The increase will not impact district plans to provide additional raises in July of 2023.
District teachers represented by Local 420, approved a contract with the district that included the raises in January 2020.
District custodians, represented by Laborers Local 42, ratified an agreement with the district in May.
“This is what leadership looks like,” said Local 420 President Ray Cummings.
“We collectively won the fight for $15. We are very pleased that the elected school board and district management could reach agreement with AFT St. Louis, Local 420 to expedite reaching $15 for St. Louis Public Schools base hourly wages.”
“With the current inflation rate hovering slightly over six percent, this is an important step forward for SLPS employees, their families and the community,” Cummings added, “District employees have been heroes during this pandemic and this is a positive recognition of their sacrifice.”
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