How can you begin a discussion on this without bringing in salary figures?
Unions, teacher, and schools have in the past negotiated contracts that include a compensation package partly based on seniority and ongoing educational achievement. What do you know that all of these people don't about how this is an 'entitlement mentality'? How is this criteria worse than what is used in business? Regards, Jason Stone | Hale --- Michael Hohmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Greedy teachers in Minneapolis? > > The Strib reports that hundreds of Mpls. teachers, many carrying placards, > paraded in a union-organized protest yesterday at District headquarters, to > demand increased wages. The wage demands are based on a contract clause > (from the current contract which expired 6/30) that provides increased wages > for increased years of service and for getting more education. The District > is currently in negotiations with the union for a new two-year contract. > > After literally hundreds of their brethren (in the Mpls. District) have lost > their jobs (just this year alone), and untold thousands of metro-area > workers (blue collar, white collar- across the board) have become unemployed > in recent years due to stagnant economic conditions, these folks might > rightly be questioned as to the moral and ethical legitimacy of their > claims. Those other workers lucky enough to still have a job in these hard > times have experienced little-to-no wage increases in recent years, and > virtually all- in both public and private sector, have seen increased > payroll deductions to cover the rising cost of healthcare insurance, and > have experienced increased co-pay requirements. Many small businesses have > dropped health insurance for their workers altogether. And yes, the ranks > of those without health insurance continue to grow in our city. Many work > fewer hours. Many have taken early retirement so that others could continue > working. Yet, these good folks, represented by the Mpls. teacher's union, > think they deserve more just because they have been on the job another year > or maybe they got some educational credits or a new degree recently. Talk > about an entitlement mentality! In what other occupation can a worker > expect- no demand, more money just because they have completed more > education? Or, just because they've been on the job another year. This is > foolishness, and explains to a large degree why educational budgets continue > to come up short at the District level. > > My recommendation to District negotiators-- completely eliminate these > contract provisions. If the teachers don't like it they can take their > increased education credentials and see what else is available in the job > market. Let them look around the job market and see what else is available > and comparable, and then make their decision. Likewise with the provision > providing increased pay just for hanging around another year. Let's get > real. And, to balance against threats to walk off the job, negotiators > might add a new contract provision that requires teacher competency testing > every couple of years; and then allow non-teachers to test-into the job; > such that current teachers and non-teachers alike would have to pass the > same subject-based competency tests in order to stay in the game (teachers > with five or more years experience could get a few points added to their > score to compensate for that classroom expertise). Not interested-- what > ever happened to the proposed no-strike clause? > > Let's not forget, there are thousands of well-educated folks currently out > of work and without health insurance who would love to get into teaching > without a lot of red-tape prerequisites. If we can test the students, why > not the teachers and the teacher wanabes? Let's add a bit of competition to > this segment of the workforce; make the teaching profession a little more > like most other professions, many of which include ongoing competency > testing requirements, etc. > > Good teachers are valuable members of society and I'm the first to recognize > the fact. But, so are good doctors, lawyers, nurses, medical technicians, > financial planners, computer professionals, insurance actuaries, engineers, > and many others on the line and in management in all sectors of the economy. > Millions have college degrees; many have advanced degrees and doctorates; > and many have years of relevant experience. Let's level the playing field, > as they say. > > [See 'Minneapolis teachers protest in contract dispute' by Allie Shah at: > http://www.startribune.com/stories/1592/4088852.html ] > > Michael Hohmann > Linden Hills > > REMINDERS: > 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL > PROTECTED] before > continuing it on the list. > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > ________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
