The Wisconsin Cheese Showdown

[bullmoose88]

Its my ancedotal experience that private school teachers in suburban collar county areas make less than their counterparts in public schools (which are in typically wealthy districts).  I went to a catholic prep school outside Philly and the teachers openly admitted that either (they had worked in the public schools, made a ton of money, but liked this atmosphere more and were willing to take less) or that they were starting off here (first job and all) but when the school really couldn't compete with another suburban public school...they left.

Whether thats the same situation inside the city of Philadelphia or in a archdioscean school situated in a poorer suburb...hard to say.  Maybe salary values are near equal.

Thats all I have to say about that.

[bullmoose88]

Did you know the teachers that are striking, calling in sick, whatever, make no contribution to their health or pension plans, zero?  Did you know that what is being proposed is that they pay for 12.5% of their health insurance premiums, and contribute something like 5% of their salary or something to their pension plan?  That is their pay cut. Oh the horror, the horror. Anyone in private industry getting that deal would have an orgasm.

Easy to see why they're fighting this so hard.

[bullmoose88]

Did you know the teachers that are striking, calling in sick, whatever, make no contribution to their health or pension plans, zero?  Did you know that what is being proposed is that they pay for 12.5% of their health insurance premiums, and contribute something like 5% of their salary or something to their pension plan?  That is their pay cut. Oh the horror, the horror. Anyone in private industry getting that deal would have an orgasm.

Easy to see why they're fighting this so hard.

It's only become such a big deal due to the effort to take away collective bargaining rights. I bet cuts like this are happening in a lot of different places and there is not this much outrage. Cut benefits but don't take away people's rights. Pretty simple.

I live in  a school district where there is a battle going on between the school board and teachers union over having the teachers pay more for their benefits.  The entry level salaries for teachers here is pretty decent, like 50 or 60k and I'd say most make at least 70k or more, and a significant portion are in the 90-100k range.  Its been pretty nasty.  The commonwealth hasn't done anything like Walker, and the teachers havent called in sick, but they're deliberately doing the minimum (not showing up to parent teacher nights, even stuff like not decorating the bulletin boards in the hallways etc).

I dont blame them for defending what they have, but when the economy sucks like it does, expecting the taxpayer to fund their salaries and their insurance/pension plans doesnt endear them to anyone.

[bullmoose88]

Did you know the teachers that are striking, calling in sick, whatever, make no contribution to their health or pension plans, zero?  Did you know that what is being proposed is that they pay for 12.5% of their health insurance premiums, and contribute something like 5% of their salary or something to their pension plan?  That is their pay cut. Oh the horror, the horror. Anyone in private industry getting that deal would have an orgasm.

Easy to see why they're fighting this so hard.

It's only become such a big deal due to the effort to take away collective bargaining rights. I bet cuts like this are happening in a lot of different places and there is not this much outrage. Cut benefits but don't take away people's rights. Pretty simple.

I live in  a school district where there is a battle going on between the school board and teachers union over having the teachers pay more for their benefits.  The entry level salaries for teachers here is pretty decent, like 50 or 60k and I'd say most make at least 70k or more, and a significant portion are in the 90-100k range.  Its been pretty nasty.  The commonwealth hasn't done anything like Walker, and the teachers havent called in sick, but they're deliberately doing the minimum (not showing up to parent teacher nights, even stuff like not decorating the bulletin boards in the hallways etc).

I dont blame them for defending what they have, but when the economy sucks like it does, expecting the taxpayer to fund their salaries and their insurance/pension plans doesnt endear them to anyone.

Oh, I am no fan of the teachers union at all. Not one bit. But the right thing to do is play hardball and make them contribute more to their pensions and healthcare (I am guessing salaries mostly are at market rates, but there can be distortions due to people who have been skating along for a long time without adding much value) but don't take away their collective bargaining rights. No one said the negotiations were going to be easy, but it needs to be done. And if teachers start doing the sorts of things you mentioned, just because they have to contribute a bit more, they will ultimately lose the PR war.

In Wisconsin Walker has overreached and basically re-ignited the entire union movement. A battle he should have won, he has managed to lose. He certainly has in my eyes, especially with the sweetheart deals for police and firefighters. Surely you agree that is wrong?

Oh the selective union busting here is the major thing that irks me.  Bust them all or bust none of them.