600 teachers' aides call in sick

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Nearly a third of educational assistants in the Albuquerque Public Schools called in sick on Thursday, forcing the district to scramble to fill classrooms across the city.

District officials have heard rumors that the Albuquerque Educational Assistants Association may organize a sick-out day over a pay dispute.

The union has been asking for a $1 per hour raise. The average educational assistant makes less than $11 an hour and works less than $7 a day, bringing in only $13,000 a year.

The district has said it can't afford the pay raise, and just last week put in a hiring freeze for personnel who aren't based at schools so the district can tighten its belt.

APS Superintendent Winston Brooks is expected to address the situation Thursday afternoon.