Comments on: Rockford teachers’ union files intent to strike notice http://rockrivertimes.com/2012/03/12/rockford-teachers%e2%80%99-union-files-intent-to-strike-notice/ The Rock River Times - THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1993 Fri, 24 May 2013 02:20:13 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Jame C. Davis http://rockrivertimes.com/2012/03/12/rockford-teachers%e2%80%99-union-files-intent-to-strike-notice/comment-page-1/#comment-4972 Jame C. Davis Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:13:54 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=36308#comment-4972 Susan: You said. "Then make an informed decision". I guess me being informed has nothing to do with the people that still have a job and paying mortagues and taxes on homes that are underwater. The hard working tax payers need a break. Someon said "We are in this together" I suppose "WE" doesn't mean teachers. The value of the homes have all gone down, but the taxes don't go down. Where is the money going to come from if the teachers "Union" get more money, The Tax Payers I Think". What this state and all the other states run by the Teacher Unions is a Right To Work State. If there was a RTW the best teachers would go to places that employ good Dictated teachers and would not have to employ the teachers that are teachers only because they have Tenure. There would not be a need for UNIONS. WHAT HAS THE UNION DONE FOR YOU LATELY? Have they helped your Medical, Health Insurance, Pensions? Just what do you receive from all the Dues the teachers pay? Other than have the tax payers pay for a raise when the Union needs more Dues? Susan: You said.
“Then make an informed decision”.
I guess me being informed has nothing to do with the people that still have a job and paying mortagues and taxes on homes that are underwater. The hard working tax payers need a break. Someon said “We are in this together” I suppose “WE” doesn’t mean teachers. The value of the homes have all gone down, but the taxes don’t go down. Where is the money going to come from if the teachers “Union” get more money, The Tax Payers I Think”. What this state and all the other states run by the Teacher Unions is a Right To Work State. If there was a RTW the best teachers would go to places that employ good Dictated teachers and would not have to employ the teachers that are teachers only because they have Tenure. There would not be a need for UNIONS. WHAT HAS THE UNION DONE FOR YOU LATELY? Have they helped your Medical, Health Insurance, Pensions? Just what do you receive from all the Dues the teachers pay? Other than have the tax payers pay for a raise when the Union needs more Dues?

]]> By: Susan http://rockrivertimes.com/2012/03/12/rockford-teachers%e2%80%99-union-files-intent-to-strike-notice/comment-page-1/#comment-4965 Susan Wed, 14 Mar 2012 01:51:10 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=36308#comment-4965 James--Please read my reply. I am retired. I do not pay union dues. I am concerned about our community and the quality of teachers. We need a neutral party to look at the facts. Do I totally believe either side? No, they are in negotiations. Of course, it is about money. The teachers are not here to raise other people children. Most I am sure care about the students, but they have their own families and have a right to a decent salary. They have a job, a profession and should get paid accordingly. James–Please read my reply. I am retired. I do not pay union dues. I am concerned about our community and the quality of teachers. We need a neutral party to look at the facts. Do I totally believe either side? No, they are in negotiations. Of course, it is about money. The teachers are not here to raise other people children. Most I am sure care about the students, but they have their own families and have a right to a decent salary. They have a job, a profession and should get paid accordingly.

]]> By: James C. Davis http://rockrivertimes.com/2012/03/12/rockford-teachers%e2%80%99-union-files-intent-to-strike-notice/comment-page-1/#comment-4964 James C. Davis Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:50:20 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=36308#comment-4964 Susan, Staci Please read RRT article.Issue March 13. You can't make me believe it's not about the money. Where are all your union dues going? RPS DISTRICT 205 ISSUES A MYTHS & FACTS DOCUMENT TO CORRECT MISINFORMATION ABOUT ITS CONTRACT OFFER TO PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS Susan, Staci
Please read RRT article.Issue March 13.
You can’t make me believe it’s not about the money. Where are all your union dues going?

RPS DISTRICT 205 ISSUES A MYTHS & FACTS DOCUMENT TO CORRECT MISINFORMATION ABOUT ITS CONTRACT OFFER TO PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS

]]> By: Rockford Resident http://rockrivertimes.com/2012/03/12/rockford-teachers%e2%80%99-union-files-intent-to-strike-notice/comment-page-1/#comment-4963 Rockford Resident Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:28:44 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=36308#comment-4963 Why is nobody mentioning declining enrollment issues? Unless class sizes are going to decrease, there will be fewer teachers in years to come due to shrinking numbers of children being born who are school aged. So, if we pay the newer teachers less, then the non-tenured teachers can quit instead of being laid off in years to come while allowing the district to keep the more experienced teachers who will not leave because they would lose their step and lane placements in other districts. The more experienced teachers are also free to move to another district but will just suck it up and work so they can get their pension without losing their higher final salaries before retirement. When this happens, we will have cheaper teachers still working here and can then afford to pay more salaries at that time. Why is nobody mentioning declining enrollment issues? Unless class sizes are going to decrease, there will be fewer teachers in years to come due to shrinking numbers of children being born who are school aged.

So, if we pay the newer teachers less, then the non-tenured teachers can quit instead of being laid off in years to come while allowing the district to keep the more experienced teachers who will not leave because they would lose their step and lane placements in other districts. The more experienced teachers are also free to move to another district but will just suck it up and work so they can get their pension without losing their higher final salaries before retirement. When this happens, we will have cheaper teachers still working here and can then afford to pay more salaries at that time.

]]> By: Susan http://rockrivertimes.com/2012/03/12/rockford-teachers%e2%80%99-union-files-intent-to-strike-notice/comment-page-1/#comment-4962 Susan Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:24:22 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=36308#comment-4962 I am flattered to think you think that I am a teacher. I am retired from another profession and did not decide that those younger than I am should suffer. So you did not speak about anything that you know. Again, read the offers. Then make an informed decision. I am flattered to think you think that I am a teacher. I am retired from another profession and did not decide that those younger than I am should suffer. So you did not speak about anything that you know. Again, read the offers. Then make an informed decision.

]]> By: Staci http://rockrivertimes.com/2012/03/12/rockford-teachers%e2%80%99-union-files-intent-to-strike-notice/comment-page-1/#comment-4961 Staci Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:22:20 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=36308#comment-4961 It always amazes me at the ignorance of some people when it comes down to education and teachers. Just out of curiosity James: Do you pay about $2,000 a year for supplies out of your own pocket for your job? Do you get your spouses social security if they die? Will you be able to collect social security when you become of age? Are your bills going down? Do you have a Master's Degree? Do you need to take continuing education classes to keep up your certificates (at approximately $300 each)? I could go on, but hopefully you're not as uneducated as you seem? You see, teachers fork out money constantly for their job and are NOT reimbursed. They do not collect ANY social security and are always taking classes!!!!!! Why? To educate YOUR children! It always amazes me at the ignorance of some people when it comes down to education and teachers. Just out of curiosity James: Do you pay about $2,000 a year for supplies out of your own pocket for your job? Do you get your spouses social security if they die? Will you be able to collect social security when you become of age? Are your bills going down? Do you have a Master’s Degree? Do you need to take continuing education classes to keep up your certificates (at approximately $300 each)? I could go on, but hopefully you’re not as uneducated as you seem? You see, teachers fork out money constantly for their job and are NOT reimbursed. They do not collect ANY social security and are always taking classes!!!!!! Why? To educate YOUR children!

]]> By: James C. Davis http://rockrivertimes.com/2012/03/12/rockford-teachers%e2%80%99-union-files-intent-to-strike-notice/comment-page-1/#comment-4960 James C. Davis Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:07:53 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=36308#comment-4960 Susan: Reread your comment. There isn't anything about "The Children" it's always about the "Money". Have the "Union" take your dues and apply them to your health care instead of giving it to the Demon-Crat party and your leader obama. Susan:
Reread your comment. There isn’t anything about “The Children” it’s always about the “Money”. Have the “Union” take your dues and apply them to your health care instead of giving it to the Demon-Crat party and your leader obama.

]]> By: Susan http://rockrivertimes.com/2012/03/12/rockford-teachers%e2%80%99-union-files-intent-to-strike-notice/comment-page-1/#comment-4957 Susan Tue, 13 Mar 2012 01:56:01 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=36308#comment-4957 Read the proposals. The current Board one amounts to a huge pay cut. The health cost the third year look like it could cost the teachers a lot more than people I know have paid for insurance. Teaching is a hard job and teachers need to be compensated fairly or they will leave. Less than 50% of teachers make it four years. I wonder how many of the best leave in Rockford. Rockford has already fallen behind in salaries when accurately compared to other districts of like size. Why should not the teachers care about their own families? Let the school board get real and avert the strike. Read the proposals. The current Board one amounts to a huge pay cut. The health cost the third year look like it could cost the teachers a lot more than people I know have paid for insurance. Teaching is a hard job and teachers need to be compensated fairly or they will leave. Less than 50% of teachers make it four years. I wonder how many of the best leave in Rockford. Rockford has already fallen behind in salaries when accurately compared to other districts of like size. Why should not the teachers care about their own families? Let the school board get real and avert the strike.

]]> By: James C. Davis http://rockrivertimes.com/2012/03/12/rockford-teachers%e2%80%99-union-files-intent-to-strike-notice/comment-page-1/#comment-4955 James C. Davis Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:39:33 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=36308#comment-4955 Fellow Property Tax Payers. Karen Bieschke, REA’s president said "But we can’t accept the board’s offer of a contract that unfairly punishes teachers, costs teachers thousands of dollars out of their paychecks, and jeopardizes health care for them and their families. That’s just not fair.” How much of the raise the union is asking for is for "The Children". I think what they are objecting to is they might have to pay some toward their pension & health care just like the rest of use hard working slobs have to. We can't raise property taxes to pay for ours. Fellow Property Tax Payers.

Karen Bieschke, REA’s president said “But we can’t accept the board’s offer of a contract that unfairly punishes teachers, costs teachers thousands of dollars out of their paychecks, and jeopardizes health care for them and their families. That’s just not fair.”
How much of the raise the union is asking for is for “The Children”. I think what they are objecting to is they might have to pay some toward their pension & health care just like the rest of use hard working slobs have to. We can’t raise property taxes to pay for ours.

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