Last night members of the JESPA bargaining team met with Director Stephanie Schooley of the Jeffco School Board in a live press conference in support of a living wage for essential workers. After seven months of bargaining the district has yet to offer any money to ESPs. JESPA continues to demand steps and a Cost of Living Adjustment, given the financial hardship the pandemic has caused to many workers as well as the long history of Jeffco balancing the budget on the backs of its lowest-paid, most diverse workforce.
As a result of JESPA members’ activism and stories of essential workers struggling with the cost of healthcare, housing, and the demands of working multiple jobs while raising their own kids, two Jeffco Board members have been moved toward supporting a living wage for workers.
You can do your part to help JESPA win an equitable pay raise by calling the Jeffco Board of Education at 303-982-6800 and demanding that the School Board make a financial proposal with steps and a COLA to ESPs. Every voice counts in the fight for a living wage.
If you haven’t joined JESPA yet, click here to join. We are stronger together!
Sincerely,
Lara Center
JESPA President & Library Paraprofessional
School can’t happen without ESPs!