The HSTA has been consistent about a shortage of teachers crisis.  Raising the starting pay would help.  But that money would need to come from somewhere.  And it is at the top.  Senior teachers would not quit because they would not be able to find another job with a starting pay as they are receiving.  If the HSTA negotiating team proposed this, it will never be ratified because the teachers in the upper years are the majority and they would vote NO.   Shameful but that is reality.