Posted on 12/13/2006 6:13:53 AM PST by Gopher Broke
December 12, 2006
Dear xxxxxx,
The Governor announced his budget amendments for public education today. A link to his release follows:
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=299
The salary amendment provides the state share of a 3% increase beginning December 1, which, in fact, is a 1.75% increase when applied to the full year. It would take a 4.5% increase for the full year for two consecutive years to bring Virginia’s teachers to the national average. It appears that we will actually lose ground in our national ranking if the Governor’s amendment is all that is provided.
Although the Governor did not mention this in his release, in conversation he related to your president and chief lobbyist that he did not provide for any increase in the retiree health care credit.
We are very disappointed by the Governor’s actions today, and we will work to obtain amendments that will provide for the professional salary level needed to attract and retain the best teachers for Virginia’s classrooms.
In addition, we will move forward with legislation to increase the retiree health care credit, remove the service cap and to include educational support professionals. There is no reason why Virginia's educators should recieve substantially less in retiree benefits that do state workers.
The session begins on January 10th, and we have a challenge on our hands.Thank you,
Robley Jones
VEA GR
"There is no reason why Virginia's educators should recieve substantially less in retiree benefits that do state workers."
Working 9 months a year has nothing to do with it.
There is no reason why teachers should be paid less or having fewer retirement benefits than most civil servants. However, I won't be approving a tax increase until the Commonwealth trims the fat in school administration and the bloated civil service job sector.
Don't we all wish for more money.
The teachers unions are doing the same thing the auto workers did, don't base raises on performance and results just hand it to them.
Yeah, we're all bummed out about loosing face in the money grubbing contest.
One of these days we must get 'round to improving our academic ranking.
Indeed
Another union shakedown on progress. I say take the fire hose to them and start over union free for a start.
That's 'i' before 'e' except after 'c.' This guy gets no raise until he learns to spell.
But
Working 9 months a year has nothing to do with it.
You're right. It has NOTHING to do with it.
My wife gets an alleged 6 weeks summer vacation about half of which is taken up with special classes she has to take. I'm serious.
5 days a week she leaves the house no later than 7:10 and usually gets to school at 7:35. Most days she leaves after 1700 and works at least 90 minutes at home on school stuff.
I'm against the raise, but I think the arguments should be based on reality, not misunderstandings.
It may not be relevant, but teachers cannot strike in VA.
If every union teacher in my school went on strike, we would still have about 80% of the teachers here--there are that few.
Now in Richmond, I've got to imagine it would be a different story. Funny how the red counties aren't in unions and the blue counties are. Kind of like the 'chicken-and-egg' conunmdrum, huh?
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