Hundreds of teachers, principals and other school employees from across the state rallied in Raleigh to protest pay cuts.

Governor Bev Perdue issued an executive order demanding a 0.5 percent pay cut for all state employees, including teachers.

In exchange, employees were given 10 hours of furlough.

"When Bev Perdue takes her pay cut, come talk to us," 8th grade history teacher Karen Mullane said.

Until then, Mullane said she wans all of her paycheck.

"We don't make enough money down here in order to support our families already," she said. "Now you're taking money away from us all in one fell swoop instead of spreading it out over the months."

Hundreds of educators from across the state rallied in front of the North Carolina Association of Educators building in Raleigh Saturday.

They held signs reading "ENOUGH: No More Take Backs," and "We're already furloughed June, July and August."

Many had direct references to Governor Perdue.

If it seems personal, high school band teacher Teicher Patterson said it is.

Candidate Bev Perdue promised to fully fund schools.

"As teachers and employees who work in schools, we voted for her with that idea," he said. "We supported her as an organization and she's done just the opposite of what we thought was going to happen."

Other educators said the problem is not that simple

The state is trying balance a budget with a $3 billion shortfall.

Earlier this month, State Superintendent June Atkinson told NBC-17 News, "I'm asking teachers to please be as flexible as possible.
"We're in an economic situation that we have never been in before," Atkinson said on May 6th.

Still, teachers at the rally said they do a job unlike any other profession.

"Teachers are the backbone of our society," Patterson said. "Without a teacher you wouldn't have any other profession today."

Even those professions that cut teacher's pay.