Posted on 05/24/2010 3:26:32 PM PDT by Graybeard58
If some teachers were heroic, so-called by one "town leader" in Connecticut in a recent published report, because they took a pay freeze this year or next, what term describes all the private-sector people who have taken pay cuts or lost their jobs in the Chris Dodd Bear Market and Recession so public-sector unionists could remain employed?
The Connecticut Education Association asserts that of the 69 three-year contracts its affiliates negotiated this year, 44 froze wages for one year. Moreover, the CEA whines, union members are paying more for their health insurance. But how many of those contracts also froze step increases, which inflate pay by 1.5 percent to 2 percent a year? And how many contracts provide raises in years two and three, when they will be even less affordable? And when discussing health-insurance costs, the CEA declines to compare the level of coverage because teachers paying 18 percent of their premiums on Cadillac plans get much more bang for their buck than the poor working stiff who pays 20 percent, 25 percent or more for much less coverage. And then there are all those in the private sector who have lost their insurance or lost their jobs and insurance.
According to data compiled by the American Federation of Teachers, Connecticut teachers' salaries are No. 1 in America: $57,770 for 185 days or so of work per year, which prorates to more than $75,000 for full year's work. But that only scratches the surface of their compensation. Besides their jewel-encrusted health benefits, they also get defined-benefit pensions that are off-the-charts generous. And when the nation isn't mired in the worst recession in generations, their job security is unrivaled. (And even when the economy falters, they still have it significantly better than most.)
For decades, the people of Connecticut have given, given and given to government to the point where theirs is the No. 1 tax burden in America. They have been generous to a fault with public schools, but with teachers and school administrators in particular. The people rarely bothered to determine whether they're getting even marginally decent bang for their buck. But those who dared ask have been met with bristly resistance and demagoguery from the educational establishment, which explains away such curiosity as proof of questioners' "anti-education" bent. So with unions tossing around platitudes such as "education is important to America's future" and "do it for the children," the people have given away their money hand over fist.
One can argue whether the people's "investment" in education has paid dividends, but there's no argument they're hurting now. And that pain only will grow with the burgeoning state budget crisis, which already has trickled down to cities and towns but threatens to swamp them in 2011 and beyond.
The people today are crying for help from those they have lavished with money for decades and more recently have insulated from the worst effects of the recession. For the most part, their cries have been met with heroic bellyaching.
Ping to a Republican-American Editorial.
If you want on or off this list, let me know.
My sisters Police Dept imposed a 14% pay cut, no overtime and the insurance went up.
NOt everyone whines like the NEA/teachers unions.
Some do important work
Teachers and other public employees guarantee that prices will remain high. The auto dealer still has public employees with inflated wages to keep his car prices high. Houses can remain high because teachers can afford them. Food can remain high because a plethora of managers and supervisors are paid inflated wages with no possibility of reductions.
Public employees are a double whammy on your pocketbook. They cost you up front and they cost you in inflated prices.
But it’s all for the kids.
Right.
Those teachers could always join the all-volunteer military if they are looking for a “better” job.
Many public sector jobs are important but I don’t think it would be the majority of jobs. Too many are just wasteful spending. Look to Greece as an example.
“Many public sector jobs are important but I don’t think it would be the majority of jobs. Too many are just wasteful spending. Look to Greece as an example.”
That’s the problem, isn’t it? “Many” is ambiguous. Police and fire we all like. But teachers in some districts in CA are paid 6 figures because they have such important jobs? These are elementary schools in some cases.
Teachers have been allowed to elevate themselves to the same status as police, fire and nurses. They drive up the costs of everything because we’re willing to pay them so damn much.
In some districts, teachers make 2 and 3 times the average wage of the families they serve and STILL complain about having to buy a few dollars worth of supplies now and then.
My true feelings are just the opposite of some conservatives of a few years back because I’ve seen the results.
The theory was that GVT employees should be paid equal to private sector employees to attract better...well, everything. But private employees have one major obstacle that public employees don’t...competition.
Thanks for the ping Graybeard.
ROTFLMAO
My brother, a 5th grade school teacher at the time, applied to the Army for an OCS slot.
THe answer was polite but short “When the Army needs elementry school teachers, we will give you a call”.
Not likely, tho I have met some ‘school teachers’ in the service - most had ‘hard’ degrees, not liberal arts. Not that there is anything wrong with LA degrees. It’s just that engineers are in a bit more demand.
Well, this English teacher was accepted, trained as an intel officer, and spent 20 years doing some interesting stuff that engineers could not wrap their brains around...
My son’s gym teacher (female) last year joined the Marines- OCS
I’m sure you did well.
If you knew my brother, you would know why he got that reply. The war in RVN was winding down and they were cutting, not hiring.
They are hiring these days!
LOL
I’m sure they are.
I retired after 22.5 years, my son had enuf after 4 active & then his IRR time. Of course 2 tours in Iraq, time in Cuba, Africa and South America may have had somehting to do with that decision.
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