Denver Public Schools teachers host ‘walk-ins’ over compensation

DENVER (KDVR) — Dozens of teachers in the Denver Classroom Teachers Association organized school “walk-ins” at multiple Denver Public Schools on Tuesday.

The “walk-in” at Denver South High School was led by union reps within DCTA. The reps told FOX31 that the “walk-in” was a nondisruptive first step to having their voices heard by the district.

Union leaders with DCTA said teachers want the district to uphold and honor the DCTA financial agreement made in 2022. The union said the agreement included compensation for years of experience and education level plus a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) number determined by the school finance act.

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DCTA said they were originally told by the district the COLA number would be 5.2% going into 2025. But they said last Tuesday the district announced it would only be 2%.

“The district has built its budget on the backs and labor of its employees, and it is time that they follow through with what they promised. We earned that 5.2% COLA,” said Matt Craig, an English teacher at Denver South High School.

The teachers within the union said it is getting more difficult to live and work within the district because the cost of living within the Denver metro area is so expensive on top of inflation.

“We are walking in to show the district and larger community that we are united in our efforts to be fairly compensated as agreed upon by DPS,” Craig said.

DPS released the following statement on the “walk-ins”:

It is unclear how long these “walk-ins” will take place.

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