Enough is enough...Northport teachers demanding higher raises (homes, layoffs)

[AndreaII]

(Most of this from the Feb. 9, 2012, Long Islander):

At a time when many of us are trying to stretch every dollar to the limit, I take personal offense to anyone who feels entitled to more money. A few weeks ago I read an article where Long Island school officials defended their right to a taxpayer-funded pension while private sector employees face layoffs and pay cuts. Now I'm hearing about the teachers over in Northport demanding raises. Negotiating parties for union members and the school district appeared to be ending two years of negotiations with a contract that included very minimal raises. The general union membership responded by voting against it, claiming they're being disrespected and want to get new members on the Board who will support their requests. This more than bothers me. I look at my friends and family trying to make ends meet, some losing their jobs, and only sometimes do I hear griping. They are happy to have a job (the ones who do) in this rough economy. How can anyone demand so much more?

[nassau2suffolk]

Just read an article about this in the times beacon record, northshoreoflongisland.com. While salaries are an issue, there also seems to be a lot more going on besides money. But hey, haven't had a good teacher bashing thread in awhile so off we go........

[TomMoser]

Personally, I would not support a contract that calls for a hard freeze the first year, 1% the second year, and 1/2% the third year. Just sayin'.

[nyliguy]

Originally Posted by nassau2suffolk

Just read an article about this in the times beacon record, northshoreoflongisland.com. While salaries are an issue, there also seems to be a lot more going on besides money. But hey, haven't had a good teacher bashing thread in awhile so off we go........

Care to elaborate on 'a lot more going on besides money'?

I clicked your link and it only references the small pay raise, nothing mentioning about what the unions voted against other than salary.

Northport is actually a well run school district, where the teachers are not paid exorbant amounts as in other districts. Although they make a very good living. The district has a lot of funds in the reserves and can operate without raising taxes under the new property tax cap. You can get access the school districts financial statements and review for yourself.

I trust the board know what they're doing and runs the schools finances pretty well.

Still interested in your thoughts on why the union voted the budget down.

[flowergarden]

I think that the way it works in NY law is if a new contract is not signed, then the teacher's continue on with the old contract. If the old contract is "better" than the new one, then it is in their best interest to continue with the old. This little glich works in favor of the BOE in years where salaries and benifits are going up, works in favor of the teachers when salaries and benifits are going down. Maybe that is what is happening?

[nassau2suffolk]

Originally Posted by nyliguy

Care to elaborate on 'a lot more going on besides money'?

I clicked your link and it only references the small pay raise, nothing mentioning about what the unions voted against other than salary.

Northport is actually a well run school district, where the teachers are not paid exorbant amounts as in other districts. Although they make a very good living. The district has a lot of funds in the reserves and can operate without raising taxes under the new property tax cap. You can get access the school districts financial statements and review for yourself.

I trust the board know what they're doing and runs the schools finances pretty well.

Still interested in your thoughts on why the union voted the budget down.

I read the OP's post, looked for the story and found the one I referenced.

I don't know why they voted it down, only read the article from Feb.1. In addition to salaries, it mentioned Annual Performance Reviews, the lack of Board participation in negotiations and what was described as the "administration's top-down approach to issuing instructional initiatives". That's why I surmise that there is a little more to the story, thats all.

[Goodnight]

Originally Posted by TomMoser

Personally, I would not support a contract that calls for a hard freeze the first year, 1% the second year, and 1/2% the third year. Just sayin'.

You wouldn't support a hard freeze, their expiring contract probably accounted for close to 5% increases the last 3 years when the residents that pay their salaries either were either out of work losing their homes or took pay cuts. That was the teachers right of course, they had a contract but now that contract is up for vote.

I doubt that there was one district that actually took a hard freeze, not even the cost of living and now they want a raise. They received raises the last 3 years, and now they want another raise coupled with the pension shortfalls and health care increases, time for the teachers to use some common fiscal sense.

[rocafeller05]

It will never end.

Lets put all the teacher jobs up for contract for...lets say 65k and bennies. They would come by the thousands for jobs.

[Goodnight]

Northport 2006 to 2010 they had cost of living increases of 3%, 3%, 3.5%, 3.5% in addition to step increases of 3.8 %, so they had pay increases of over 7% for those 4 years.

[AndreaII]

Originally Posted by Goodnight

Northport 2006 to 2010 they had cost of living increases of 3%, 3%, 3.5%, 3.5% in addition to step increases of 3.8 %, so they had pay increases of over 7% for those 4 years.

Doesn't that translate into a 28% pay increase over those 4 years?

And here's my family's situation: no pay raise for the past 3 years running with costs increasing every year. At least we have a paycheck and benefits (how does a $4,000 healthcare deductible sound - that's currently what we have - boy those teachers would go on strike if they ended up with that). We count ourselves lucky compared with other less fortunate people.