UE Convention Resolutions
Pay Equity for School
Paraprofessionals
Paraprofessionals play a unique and critical role in the day-to-day functioning of our preschool -12 public education system and perform tasks such as one-on-one tutoring, small group instruction, instructional support, library, media center and computer laboratory management, bi-lingual translation, sign language translation, special needs inclusion in the classroom and playground facilities, health and medical care and other school wide educational assistance. The mainstreaming of special needs students has added physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nursing, testing and teaching children with disabilities to paraprofessional job duties.
Many paraprofessionals have independently pursued training and education to learn specific reading, math, and language arts programs. In addition, No Child Left Behind has mandated that paraprofessionals in Title I-funded schools or programs complete two years of college or pass an assessment test in order to maintain their jobs and be deemed "highly qualified."
However, while the responsibilities, educational requirements, and workload of paraprofessionals have increased dramatically in the recent past, salaries and benefits have not.
Paraprofessionals, who are predominantly women, work in school districts where all other employees receive salaries, pensions, healthcare, vacation, paid holidays and other benefits far in excess of that of paraprofessionals.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THIS 70th UE CONVENTION:
UE endorses continued and active participation in legislative, political, and collective bargaining campaigns which address the gender discrimination against paraprofessionals and seek to improve the wages, working conditions and other benefits to bring equity to paraprofessionals.