More than 150 educators and supporters of the Durham Association of Educators (DAE) came out in full force in their fight for workers' rights.
The evening started with a rally outside the Durham Public Schools Staff Development Center before meeting with DPS Superintendent Anthony Lewis.
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Educators have been fighting for union recognition for 14 months.
The initial impasse began after the district realized it had gone $12 million over its budget and paid employees more money than what it budgeted for.
The district then overhauled the salary schedules for classified employees after the error led to protests.
The discrepancy resulted in the suspension of the former CFO for the district, and the resignation of then DPS superintendent Pascal Mubenga.
Members of the meet and confer team and Superintendent Lewis failed to find common ground.
“Dr Lewis has been hesitant and has been hesitant for a while,” DAE president Mika Twietmeyer shared with WRAL News. “We are hoping one more board member votes for our policy.
DAE wants a seat at the table with school administrators when it comes to negotiating demands, such as budget transparency, restoration of pay for educators with Master’s degrees, and no cuts to frontline positions.
Superintendent Lewis shared why the two parties are at a stalemate, stating ‘There’s give and take on both sides’
“I don’t get a chance to dictate who [DAE] brings to the table and I feel strongly they shouldn’t dictate who I get to bring to the table,” Lewis said.
Lewis used food service workers as an example of who gets involved in the discussion process.
Twietmeyer rejected the idea, telling WRAL “We want to meet with people who are making decisions for the district and workers aren’t making those decisions.”
Three DPS school board members – Emily Chavez, Joy Goff, and Jessica Auten endorse DAE’s Meet and Confer Policy.
The group is looking for support from one more board member to move forward.
“We see we are this close to getting meet and confer and we are just waiting for school board members to engage with us and listen to the workers,” Twietmeyer said.
Educators hope to resume conversations at the Durham School Board meeting on Thursday, March 27.