STOCKTON, Calif. – The Stockton Unified School District’s board of education is calling the local teachers union’s bluff.

About a week after members of the Stockton Teachers Association voted to allow their union to call a strike, the school board voted Tuesday to more than double substitute teacher pay from $155 a day to $350 a day, a clear sign that the district officials are prepared to weather the worst, KCRA reports.

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After the 5 to 2 vote, about 200 union members held a collective tantrum outside of the district office, changing and toting picket signs threatening to walk out on students.

“By the district offering a much higher sub rate, what they are doing is unilaterally changing our contract, which is illegal,” STA boss Erich Myers groaned to the news site.

Meyers said the union filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the Public Employees Relation Board to block the pay increase for substitutes.

Meyers also told CBS Sacramento that the union filed another complaint because district officials notified probationary teachers that if they strike, they’re fired.

“(The Public Employment relations Board) could take action, they could choose to let it go,” he said. “We’re asking them to expedite their decision.”

KCRA reports 97 percent of STA members last week voted to authorize a strike over a demanded 6.5 percent raise for last school year, a raise the district will agree to if teachers work an additional 2 hours per week.

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“We are ready to walk,” teacher Nanci Massone told the news site. “We’re not taking any more one percent of half percent for three years. No, we will walk this time.”

Many young union members were particularly stunned by the district’s decision to double substitute pay, which some alleged was more than they make.

“They’re not allowing us to have a raise,” teacher Courtney Alvarado complained, “but they’re offering (raises to) subs who have gone to school for maybe 2 to 3 years. It just makes us feel not valued.”

Teacher Nichole Tirapelle pointed out that she’s much smarter than substitute teachers, so she deserves big money too.

“Obviously, that makes me very upset because I’m making far below that,” she said. “I went to school for five plus years. I have my master’s degree.”