MILWAUKEE – Bob Peterson is the president of the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association – MTEA – the union for teachers in Milwaukee Public Schools, the state’s largest school district. On Thursday, Peterson joined Wisconsin Jobs Now, 15 Now and representatives from several labor unions including the SEIU and AFSCME to protest in favor of raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

According to a database assembled by media outlets, Peterson’s total compensation from Milwaukee Public Schools during the 2012-2013 school year – the most recent year for which data is available – was $121,616. His formal job title is “Short Term Substitute Teacher” and his job category is “Short-Term Substitute/Extra Curricular Activities.”

In the middle of the school day, Peterson was spotted walking in circles on a sidewalk outside of a McDonalds shortly after several protesters, including U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D) were arrested for disorderly conduct. Asked if he works a minimum wage job, Peterson confirmed that his job pays him more than the minimum wage.

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The entirety of Peterson’s compensation as a union boss comes from the taxpayer-funded Milwaukee Public Schools. IRS reports filed by MTEA identify several leaders who receive six-figure salaries from the union, but Peterson, despite his status as president, only collects a salary from taxpayers.

In 2010 and 2011, MTEA paid five staff members six-figure salaries. However, in 2012 as revenue into the union dropped, the number of paid staff members dropped to four. The lone six-figure salaried employee, Sidney Hatch, did see his salary jump to $154,037. Hatch worked as a lobbyist and executive director of the union and has subsequently retired.

A recent study by the MacIver Institute found that elementary school teachers in Milwaukee Public Schools are the highest paid elementary school teachers in the nation. Milwaukee elementary teachers even beat out teachers in places like New York, New York and Los Angeles, California for the top paid spot.

Authored by Brian Sikma

Published with permission