Teachers March for Better Pay, Budget Talks Stall

0:00It's April 29th. I'm Corey with The Story, and this is Durham News Today, local news powered by AI. Thousands of teachers plan to hit the streets of downtown Raleigh this Friday, for a big march organized by the North Carolina Association of Educators. They're pushing state lawmakers hard for better base pay and more education funding since no full budget passed this year in 2025. Leaving teachers without new raises beyond basic step increases, House Republicans are pushing for bigger teacher paybumps than their Senate counterparts, while Democratic Governor Josh Stein also wants fresh. Raises on the table, this comes amid long-stall budget talks with the House holding firm and the Senate slower to move. Lawmakers like House Speaker Destin Hall and Senate Leader Phil Berger brushed off the protest, noting most, won't even be in session on Friday. Hall urged teachers to call their senators instead to back the House budget, while Berger worry more about parents scrambling for childcare due to

1:00school disruptions in places like Wake County. Over the past 15 years, both parties say they boosted teacher pay and school funds steadily, but Democrats call for even more public school. Cash and pushback, against Republican-backed private school vouchers. As negotiations drag on, this March spotlights the tension, but real progress might hinge on those phone calls and compromise before the session. RAPS.