Move to Outlaw teacher's strikes in PA (Penn Hills, Upper St. Clair: chapel, school districts)

[gg]

Originally Posted by hempfield mania

Proposal would outlaw teacher strikes in Pennsylvania

Finally, a "progressive" step in the right direction in PA (37 states have similar laws). Either proposal would work for me: Total ban on teacher's strikes but more difficult to get passed or, financial repurcussions if teachers decide to strike.

Both options get the point across .

Hope it goes through. Wish we could get the salaries in line, but what is done is done and the people who actually pay school taxes are going to get crushed more and more each year. Can't wait till the massive pensions are kicking in and we are hiring new teachers paying them $80K to start since that is obviously where we are headed. I get a kick out of people mentioning "minimum wage". Guess you haven't looked at teacher's salaries in our region lately and also are not looking at the fact that they have a couple of MONTHS off more than the private sector has. Interestingly they make MORE than the average private sector jobs in our area, but that is fine. They are teachers and need to make more than all.

[hornet67]

The teacher's unions mouthpieces are always saying " We only care about the kids", "It's the kids that will suffer", etc., ad nauseum. Yet, they are out on the picket line at the drop of a hat. Methinks any rationa person knows who their real first priority is.
Certainly, when I attended school in the 50's & 60's , teachers were underpaid, and had to work summers to survive. That era has passed, many years ago, and they now earn a good, well-deserved ( for the most part) living, with oustanding benefits, and retirement packages. Yet, the unions, at least, constantly bleat for more, which comes from we taxpayers, and seem unwilling to compromise in many situations. God forbid that they may have to pay a bit more for healthcare, or accept discipline, or termination for the incompetents in their ranks.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by hempfield mania

If 37 other states feel that education is so important that they outlawed strikes, then it can't be such a bad idea.

The fact that 37 other states outlawed strikes shows that our governments is corporate owned and controlled and worker's rights mean absolutely nothing. Keeping teachers from striking and giving them less rights affects all of us negatively. The only reason there is such a push against teachers is because it's the strongest union left. In a plutocracy you can't have those at the bottom fighting for rights, that would take away power and money from those at the top.

This isn't about education and it never was. Those at the top don't want people educated outside of being mindless consumers anyway. The anti teacher movement is to keep power away from the peasants and that's all.

[Picksburg Stillers]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

The fact that 37 other states outlawed strikes shows that our governments is corporate owned and controlled and worker's rights mean absolutely nothing. Keeping teachers from striking and giving them less rights affects all of us negatively. The only reason there is such a push against teachers is because it's the strongest union left. In a plutocracy you can't have those at the bottom fighting for rights, that would take away power and money from those at the top.

This isn't about education and it never was. Those at the top don't want people educated outside of being mindless consumers anyway. The anti teacher movement is to keep power away from the peasants and that's all.

[hornet67]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

The fact that 37 other states outlawed strikes shows that our governments is corporate owned and controlled and worker's rights mean absolutely nothing. Keeping teachers from striking and giving them less rights affects all of us negatively. The only reason there is such a push against teachers is because it's the strongest union left. In a plutocracy you can't have those at the bottom fighting for rights, that would take away power and money from those at the top.

This isn't about education and it never was. Those at the top don't want people educated outside of being mindless consumers anyway. The anti teacher movement is to keep power away from the peasants and that's all.

What time are you storming the Bastille, or is it the Winter Palace? Power to the people, in Amerika!

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Wisconsin Gov. Walker Takes Prank Call From Fake 'Koch' Brother : It's All Politics : NPR

Income inequality in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Why is America the 'no-vacation nation'? - CNN

Fed Confidence in Transitory Inflation Hinges on Low Wage Gains - Bloomberg

Really fringe, tin foil hat stuff here lemme tell ya.

[xtant64]

I have a love/hate relationship with unions. They helped keep my father employed for years, when his company could have replaced him with someone younger for less money/benefits. However, corruption seems to eat at these sort of organizations. Maybe teacher unions have been getting greedy with their demands, much like I think some of public transits demands are a little greedy.

I will say this: unions strike to CAUSE an inconvenience to people and show the worth of their work. It is a simple but effective tool. Without it, big business would have run out of control decades ago, and people everywhere would still be working 12-18 hour days doing hard labor. I personally have seen a reversal to some of these work habits, where if you DON'T currently work 10+ hours, 6+ day weeks, plus are tied to a smart phone/laptop, you can be seen as a slacker by some management in a salary position (where you get no extra compensation for working extra). I'm not saying it's hard work physically, but people can break mentally as well. I'm not union, so I'm not speaking for them, but I think having a group of peers to support you to upper management and back you when they are being unreasonable is not a bad thing.

Martin Niemöller said it best:
"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me."

[Velvet Jones]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

Wisconsin Gov. Walker Takes Prank Call From Fake 'Koch' Brother : It's All Politics : NPR

Income inequality in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Why is America the 'no-vacation nation'? - CNN

Fed Confidence in Transitory Inflation Hinges on Low Wage Gains - Bloomberg

Really fringe, tin foil hat stuff here lemme tell ya.

While I think unions have behaved poorly in the past, I'm also shocked at how people are becoming completely blind to the benefits that they fought for and provide. As your links point out, the USA is already on of the most productive countries on the planet. We work the most hours and have the least vacation time of any industrialized nation. If it wasn't for the small remaining organized labor pool do people really think that vacation and sick time would exist? Politicians on both sides have shown virtually no backbone when standing up to their corporate masters. All it would take is Bernanke or Bill Gates to come whining before congress about America's "lack of competitive workplace rules" and you could kiss what vacation you have good bye. Just like the days of old Carnegie and Frick, today's companies could care less about their employees. They would happily pay you a $1 a day for 12 hour days, seven days a week if they could get a way with it.

[robrobrob]

Originally Posted by Velvet Jones

Politicians on both sides have shown virtually no backbone when standing up to their corporate masters.

Politicians have bowed to union leaders too.

[Bong477]

Unions represent the interest of unions. Government represents the interest of government. Don't be fooled into thinking either really represent your best interests even if they occasionally do something helpful.