Many of the same arguments that you use for making public all of the particulars of the teachers' contracts also apply to state, federal, city and county employees. I never really understand why we are so adamant about knowing all of the particulars about a teacher's contract when we do not ask for the same information about a police officer's contract or that of other public employees. Why do we have a different view of teachers' contracts?
While it may be possible to find what the average pay for a particular position held by someone with a particular level of education and experience, as far as I know, I can't simply call up Fastenal for instance and expect to be told what compensation is offered to the president, vice presidents, ceo, accountants, clerical, etc. In fact, when I have accepted positions, I was only told what my compensation would be, and what, if any, contribution I was expected to make towards insurance, retirement, etc. The same information was not provided to me concerning any other person in any other position, or even for other persons holding the same position. Nor was I always told what the monthly contribution my employer would be making towards a healthcare or retirement plan. Perhaps more information would have been made available to me if I were being hired as an executive, but I don't think my experience is vastly different than the average employee. We may expect that health care costs be counted in compensation for teachers, but I don't think many of us think the same way about our employers' health care contributions. Since you are an employer, you probably do think of such things more than the average employee.
In the US, we are frequently discouraged from talking openly about our compensation with others outside of our family, including our co-workers. So, while we may know very well what someone with our general qualifications usually earns, according to databanks, job services, etc. we may or may not know how what we are actually being paid compares with our peers at the same employer or with the one down the street, except in very general terms.
Terri Hyle
From: "Paul Double" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Online Democracy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: FW: [Winona] Downloading contracts as Paul wants Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2003 21:07:44 -0500
Ruth
I can think of many reasons such as
* They are public information * They are paid for with public funds * They are shared with other districts and used by both sides to compare with each others * They are forwarded to the School Boards Association for publication and evaluation * They are forwarded to the Minnesota Education Association for evaluation * They enable fair and proper analysis and comparison verses reading between the lines not just the highlights from the paper. * They allow for the weighting of benefits verses compensation to be placed into proper perspective or as a trade off.
As for the private sector that information is available through the job service for most occupations. It is used by many to compare compensation paid to existing employees with the market place thus providing a valuable tool for employers to stay competitive for both recruitment and retention of a quality work force and for those seeking work to know what companies are paying.
Paul Double
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ruth Marg Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2003 6:25 PM To: Winona Forum Subject: [Winona] Downloading contracts as Paul wants
Just wondering why you would want all of the Winona Public school district contracts downloaded. If you don't know all of the facts you may take things out of context. You may go in to the main office and if you are real interested read them all. I would also like to see contracts of many of our private businsesses and see how they are treating their workers and what kind of profit they are making over what they are charging for their product. We know the school district isn't in the business to make money, but to educate our next generation of workers. We as taxpayers and voters chose the people to represent us in school decisions and I don't intend to second guess them, even if I don't always agree with them. If you really are interested in what they are doing come to their meetings, and I don't just mean when they are talking about school closings and anyother hot topic. Ruth
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