2,000 Sign Petition Against the QEO

Members of Southern Lakes United Educators are going on the offensive to battle the "Qualified Economic Offer."

Earlier this month, they collected petitions with 2,000 signatures of teachers, administrators and staff who support cost of living pay increases for teachers. They were given to State Senator Lynn Adelman's office.

More than 100 members attended a rally and news conference March 5 at Evergreen Elementary School in Waterford to highlight problems caused by the QEO.

"The law is not working," negotiator Dennis Eisenberg told the crowd. "We need a change, and we need to stop the erosion in salaries."

SLUE is working to raise awareness of the unfairness of the law among members and the public, according to Public Relations Director Joanne Williams. The goal is to "hang together and make legislators aware of dissatisfaction among teachers," she said.

SLUE's March 14 legislative dinner will also focus on the QEO.

"Something will come of this," Williams said. "We are sensitizing the public to the whole issue."

Posted March 7, 1997