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Did I read that correctly, teachers union giving up raises to save jobs??
Judging from the list, we have more schools that are on deck: Sachem, Middle Country, Brentwood? Time to give back (void the raises, not really giving back) to taxpayers and your fellow teachers.
I can only speak for my wifes teachers union, but they are not reneging on raises only to save jobs. Many teachers also want the communities to know that they aren't blind to the current economic situation, and it has been openly stated in union meetings that part of this is PR. My wife and some of her friends, for instance, have no chance of being laid off either way due to seniority, but they feel reducing or freezing raises is only fair, even though the district will not guarantee no layoffs even IF they give up raises. Most likely they will have wage freezes PLUS some people will be laid off. There are some old timers who don't think they should be giving up a penny, but they are a minority.
I know to some of you it is meaningless unless they take an actual pay cut, but if you look at recent negotiations by OTHER very highly paid public workers, they weren't quite so generous, and in fact gave themselves a raise despite the current economic situation, putting most of any "cuts" they offered on the backs of future hires.
I can only speak for my wifes teachers union, but they are not reneging on raises only to save jobs. Many teachers also want the communities to know that they aren't blind to the current economic situation, and it has been openly stated in union meetings that part of this is PR. My wife and some of her friends, for instance, have no chance of being laid off either way due to seniority, but they feel reducing or freezing raises is only fair, even though the district will not guarantee no layoffs even IF they give up raises. Most likely they will have wage freezes PLUS some people will be laid off. There are some old timers who don't think they should be giving up a penny, but they are a minority.
I know to some of you it is meaningless unless they take an actual pay cut, but if you look at recent negotiations by OTHER very highly paid public workers, they weren't quite so generous, and in fact gave themselves a raise despite the current economic situation, putting most of any "cuts" they offered on the backs of future hires.
I can't believe that the teacher's motives are for "the good of the community." Because, if that was their motive they would have voluntarily taken cuts and froze wages 2-3 years ago. They are doing this because of the massive push back they are getting from neighbors/friends/public and the fact that an ambivalence to this subject could lead to much harsher concessions later on. Anyway, it's a start!
It's unfortunate that some of those teachers think they shouldn't give up a penny. Why doesn't the union just vote to cut the top teachers salaries? Doesn't it all come down to a vote? That would be a huge PR victory, and would only cost the people at the absolute top.
The new agreement describes teachers' concessions as increased contributions to their health-insurance coverage. Currently, local teachers pay 10 percent of those costs -- considerably less than the 15 to 20 percent paid in many other districts.
However, Susan Casali, who is Comsewogue's assistant superintendent for business, said the givebacks will more than compensate for the 3.2 percent contractual raises that teachers are due next year, plus much of the additional "step" increases built into their salary schedules. Casali added that a relatively small number of teachers -- less than 50 -- who are part-timers or full-timers with little seniority will receive less total pay next year than this year.
It sounds like they are just moving the figures around to different columns. Out of a total of 300 teachers, only 50 will actually see any cut in pay.
I can't believe that the teacher's motives are for "the good of the community." Because, if that was their motive they would have voluntarily taken cuts and froze wages 2-3 years ago. They are doing this because of the massive push back they are getting from neighbors/friends/public and the fact that an ambivalence to this subject could lead to much harsher concessions later on. Anyway, it's a start!
It's unfortunate that some of those teachers think they shouldn't give up a penny. Why doesn't the union just vote to cut the top teachers salaries? Doesn't it all come down to a vote? That would be a huge PR victory, and would only cost the people at the absolute top.
Why not have all the top and middle earning teachers vote to reduce their own pay? That would be an even bigger PR victory and really really save money.
Slightly OT but I hear the Garden City PTA is giving the administration serious pushback on their plans to cut teachers and increase class sizes, all while not eliminating any admin positions. GC went thru this same scenarion last year and the budget failed the first time. Then the supt supposedly agreed to a pay freeze for himself, but in actuality he got more paid vacation time so it was a wash. Should be interesting to see what happens this May.
For the PTA to be taking a stand is a big deal though, at least in GC.
wait...so cutting services isn't the only way to reduce costs? Who knew?
C'mon this is Long Island. What's that word you used...."reduce"? No, we cut services and keep or raise costs. God forbid the blue unicorn should appear and we actually find a way to raise services and reduce costs.
It sounds like they are just moving the figures around to different columns. Out of a total of 300 teachers, only 50 will actually see any cut in pay.
Good catch! I didn't even see a pg 2 when I first accessed the article, strange.. ND must've slipped that in there. But it's still real concessions I guess, no?
What about the other troubled districts: Rocky Point, Middle Country, Billy Floyd.. heard talks the Gov wants consolidated districts. RP + Middle Country + William Floyd -- about on par w each other academically, would save a lot if they merged districts?
Are they going to cut the Rocky point cheerleader program ?
I can't believe that the teacher's motives are for "the good of the community." Because, if that was their motive they would have voluntarily taken cuts and froze wages 2-3 years ago. They are doing this because of the massive push back they are getting from neighbors/friends/public and the fact that an ambivalence to this subject could lead to much harsher concessions later on. Anyway, it's a start!
It's unfortunate that some of those teachers think they shouldn't give up a penny. Why doesn't the union just vote to cut the top teachers salaries? Doesn't it all come down to a vote? That would be a huge PR victory, and would only cost the people at the absolute top.
Exactly. The districts are still running deficits, layoffs are still going to happen. They aren't going to cut the top, that only works for taxing the rich.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pequaman
Good catch! I didn't even see a pg 2 when I first accessed the article, strange.. ND must've slipped that in there. But it's still real concessions I guess, no?
What about the other troubled districts: Rocky Point, Middle Country, Billy Floyd.. heard talks the Gov wants consolidated districts. RP + Middle Country + William Floyd -- about on par w each other academically, would save a lot if they merged districts?
Are they going to cut the Rocky point cheerleader program ?
Sachem too. Laying off quite a few teachers last I looked. My wife and I were discussing the housing scheme on LI with the cuts to the local government, teachers, etc.
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From page 2 of that Newsday Mobile article
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