22 replies to this topic

[g5jamz]

I'm sorry...did I say conservative bastion?

http://www.chicagotr...0,2062807.story

Striking for the first time in 25 years, Chicago's teachers set up picket lines this morning after talks with public school officials ended over the weekend without resolution.
"Rahm says cut back, we say fight back," picketers chanted this morning outside Chicago Public Schools headquarters.
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis announced late Sunday night that weekend talks had failed to resolve all the union's issues. “We have failed to reach an agreement that will prevent a labor strike,” she said. “No CTU members will be inside of our schools Monday.”

With unemployment high and wages barely rising, does anyone have any sympathy for a group of employees demanding 16% raises over 4 years and other benefit concessions?

[Gazi]

Why not? Aren't you worshiping and voting for congressmen who receive pay raises automatically each year for doing jack poo?

[stirs]

Incomes for average American goes down $4k the last 4 years, but teachers think they should get 16% raise. Nothing like the "fairness" espoused by Dems

[Darth Biscuit]

I saw that 16% figure in an article about this earlier... is that for real what they were offered? ... and it's not enough? Have they lost their minds?

NC teachers haven't had a raise in 5 years.... not even a 1% cost of living increase.

[g5jamz]

16% over 4 years...so 4%/year. Either way...that's a hefty increase when a lot of people are barely seeing 2%.

[stirs]

http://www.nationalr...nions-john-fund

[g5jamz]

If Rahm has a set, he'll replace them. But this is Illinois...with probably very strict pro union laws to prevent a ATC style event.

[Jase]

16% over 4 years...so 4%/year. Either way...that's a hefty increase when a lot of people are barely seeing 2%.

3.78%

[stirs]

The incestuous relationship between the unions putting their guys in office with reciprication expected as far as wages and benefits is a huge problem. Walker addressed it in WI and others are doing the same. We will see how Rahm handles. Guess he could have a few show up in the river with concrete shoes (the Chicago way), and that might make them want to negotiate a littel more.

[g5jamz]

The incestuous relationship between the unions putting their guys in office with reciprication expected as far as wages and benefits is a huge problem. Walker addressed it in WI and others are doing the same. We will see how Rahm handles. Guess he could have a few show up in the river with concrete shoes (the Chicago way), and that might make them want to negotiate a littel more.

He would need a lot...have you ever seen the fat chick in charge of the teacher's union in Chicago?

[Tensor]

How much has the cost of living increased in Chicago?

If the cost of living is going up more than 4% per year and their wages are rising by 4% per year, then they're making less money each year when adjusted for inflation.

Chicago is a ridiculously expensive place to live.

I'm not supporting or not supporting their cause, legitimately curious about the rise in the cost of living there. Nobody goes into teaching for money, but if your wages aren't keeping up with inflation, would you stick around?

[Darth Biscuit]

How much has the cost of living increased in Chicago?

If the cost of living is going up more than 4% per year and their wages are rising by 4% per year, then they're making less money each year when adjusted for inflation.

Chicago is a ridiculously expensive place to live.

I'm not supporting or not supporting their cause, legitimately curious about the rise in the cost of living there. Nobody goes into teaching for money, but if your wages aren't keeping up with inflation, would you stick around?

I see your point, and the same thing is going on here in NC... would I stick around? Well, maybe, if I had a degree in education and no other experience. Not a whole lot of other jobs out there to be had... bad position to be in. I'm sure a lot of teachers have left the profession, or are at least thinking about it.

I'm sure the teachers involved here want to be paid just like everybody wants to be paid... but in a situation like this with a group of unionized public employees... who are they really affecting most by going on strike? The kids...

If a union at a company goes on strike it hurts the company's bottom line because they aren't making product, and the company has an incentive to work it out... in this case, the politicians will either have to cave to their demands and have an even bigger deficit in education spending, which affects everything from salaries to buying pencils and paper in classrooms, or they can fire them all and get new teachers, which would probably be very hard to do... either way it's a lose/lose and above all, the kids lose.

[cookinwithgas]

Rank State SERI Well Above Average 1 Massachusetts 4.82 2 Minnesota 4.06 3 New Jersey 4.04 4 New Hampshire 4.01 5 New York 3.94 Above Average 6 Virginia 3.73 7 Maryland 3.57 8 Connecticut 3.28 9 Indiana 3.28 10 Maine 3.24 Average 11 Florida 3.13 12 Illinois 3.08 13 South Dakota 3.08 14 Wisconsin 3.06 15 Colorado 3.04 16 Kansas 3.00 17 Kentucky 3.00 18 Vermont 2.93 19 Georgia 2.88 20 Washington 2.86 21 Utah 2.85 22 Pennsylvania 2.80 23 Tennessee 2.67 24 Ohio 2.64 25 Delaware 2.60 26 Michigan 2.60 27 Oregon 2.58 28 Wyoming 2.58 29 Montana 2.53 Below Average 30 Idaho 2.47 31 Texas 2.45 32 North Dakota 2.40 33 Missouri 2.39 34 California 2.38 35 Rhode Island 2.38 36 North Carolina 2.34 37 Hawaii 2.29 38 Iowa 2.25 39 Alaska 2.20 40 South Carolina 2.20 41 Arkansas 2.14 Far Below Average 42 Oklahoma 2.01 43 Nebraska 1.97 44 Nevada 1.93 45 Arizona 1.91 46 New Mexico 1.72 47 Alabama 1.60 48 Louisiana 1.59 49 West Virginia 1.58 50 Mississippi 1.11 National Average -- -- 2.82

[cookinwithgas]

Emanuel once again argued that negotiations hinge on two remaining issues: a new teacher evaluation system and principals' ability to get rid of teachers. Chicago Teachers Union officials said there are more remaining issues than that, although they conceded the strike is not primarily about money.

Way to spin anti union people. It's mostly about the kinds of things that are designed to remove power from the unions, which as we have seen, can be quite effective and worth fighting against.

[g5jamz]

Good thing those charter schools, suburbs, and non-Chicago cities are propping up the fail IN Chicago.