Oh, To Be A Teacher In Wisconsin

WSJ | 2/25/11 | Robert M. Costrell

[harpu]

How can fringe benefits cost nearly as much as a worker's salary? Answer: collective bargaining.

The showdown in Wisconsin over fringe benefits for public employees boils down to one number: 74.2. That's how many cents the public pays Milwaukee public-school teachers and other employees for retirement and health benefits for every dollar they receive in salary. The corresponding rate for employees of private firms is 24.3 cents.

Gov. Scott Walker's proposal would bring public-employee benefits closer in line with those of workers in the private sector. And to prevent benefits from reaching sky-high levels in the future, he wants to restrict collective-bargaining rights.

The average Milwaukee public-school teacher salary is $56,500, but with benefits the total package is $100,005, according to the manager of financial planning for Milwaukee public schools. When I showed these figures to a friend, she asked me a simple question: "How can fringe benefits be nearly as much as salary?" The answers can be found by unpacking the numbers in the district's budget for this fiscal year in...

•Social Security and Medicare.
•State Pension.
•Teachers' Supplemental Pension.
•Classified Pension.
•Health care for current employees.
•Health insurance for retirees.

Overall, the school district's contributions to health insurance for employees and retirees total about 50.9 cents on top of every dollar paid in wages. Together with pension and Social Security contributions, plus a few small items, one can see how the total cost of fringe benefits reaches 74.2%.

[Secret Agent Man]

The other things in collective bargaining AGREEMENTS (not RIGHTS) other private sector workers would beg for:

1. Public school teachers who don’t take their insurance are paid $6,000 if they don’t take insurance. If hubby has a better plan, they pocket six grand. If BOTH are teachers, they both get a great plan under one, and ALSO pocket six grand.

And don’t tell me there aren’t two teachers married together. I have neighbors across the street that are both teachers. I have acquaintences in Madison that are both professors and are married to each other. It is more common than you’d think.

2. Overtime stacking. If you miss a shift, you can call in for the next shift, and get overtime for that shift because it’s not your normal work hours.

And right now, what’s being done in Madison does not cover teachers. The current deal is only for state public sector union people. The teachers are not in this bill. They will be in the next budget bill coming out very shortly.

[Fredgoblu]

So...if the unions are so hung up on collective bargaining, tell them we'll bargain, but only on the total cost--salary and benefits included. You don't like copays, that's fine. But the added cost comes out of your pocket, not mine.

How many of you in the private sector get called into the HR department to renegotiate your pension and health care benefits? You don't! In October, they come to the office and tell you that because of rising costs, here's the best health care and pension packages they can offer. You want the best, you're going to need to pay X dollars per pay period extra. You don't get a pension, you get a 401K plan...and if you want any money in it, they might match a part of what you contribute.

We've been making copays in the private sector for 20+ years...and the public unions are upset that they're going to need to pony up $5 to see the doctor?!?! Give me a break.

[Eva]

The average teacher in Wisconsin gets an extra $.742 for every dollar of salary. So, for every $10 of salary, the teachers get another $7.40. That’s on top of social security, I think.

[Mr. K]

My point is that they are using the qualification ‘teacher’ and not including all administrators

Sorry if I was not clear

There are way too many chiefs and not enough indians

and I would like to see what the ADMINISTRATORS make