I'll say it again just to make sure it is read. They are not tearing up any contract or changing an agreement. This is a bill to give the state more power to rectify future negotiations with the union so they can’t make the unrealistic demands that have for the last 20 years.
If the demands were unrealistic why did the state sign the contract? do private school teachers make unrealistic salaries and pensions?
I have no issues with the above, as long states honor contracts they signed. States have the right to barter and should just like union or you and me.
Because no state government has had the balls to say no. It has been easier to make the agreement and push off the financial woes to future administrations. Also when those agreements were made the economy was strong. Bruce, you know how short sighted legislators can be. They made that agreement when the books didn't look so grim. Also, people yelling and screaming we need to spend more and more and more and more money on schools and teachers has been a strong and winning message. The problem is, no one can figure out how to pay for it. People need to realize that you just can't have good schools by throwing huge lump sums of money at it. I don't know what private teachers make. I know we can't afford to give free health insurance and free retirement to every state employee. If a private school can afford to pay a teacher a huge benefit package so be it. My educated guess tells me private school teachers in Wisconsin make considerably less in benefits than public school teachers.
I'm going to start running my golf course like the public sector. First I'm going to hire 25 more employees. Of course I'll give them full health and a very lucrative retirement package. I don't expect any of them to work past 55. Then I'm going to all new equipment. Fairway unit, fringe mower, greens mower, tractor, front end mowers, rough mower, sprayer etc... Then I'm going to buy top of the line chemicals and increase my applications so the conditions are perfect. Oh by the way the weed wacker guy should be making more than 10 an hour. I'll take him up to $35000. Now.... to offset this operation I'll simply charge $415 for a round of golf (without cart). I'll also be selling $17 beers and $9 snicker bars. Wait a minute..... come to think of it I may not be in business very long.
This updates where the fight is at. It summarizes what Walker is proposing and what the unions are saying and doing. http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/116301539.html
I have a picture somewhere I'm going to see if I can find. Basically it's of 9 county employees huddling around a limb that was down. Here's the breakdown. 9 county workers, 4 trucks, chipper. One guy with chainsaw, 2 guys loading chipper, One guy raking debris, One guy holding a flag drinking a cup of coffee and talking to the other 4 that I'm still not sure what were doing there. They were there for 2 hours that I know of. Now for the math: The county tree limb. 18 labor hours (let's just say at $20/hour), gas for 4 vehicles, misc... let's just say $400 to chop up a limb laying on the ground. The business owner tree limb. 30 minutes to an hour of limb removal, 75 cents in gas......not even sure how to put a money value on it. $5.00?
Perhaps they should let citizens clear the snow off of their streets instead of paying those lazy ass workers to do it with tax money.
NY... I want to take the middle ground here. You can state worst case examples of private sector waste as well. It's just the nature of employment in general. Human nature in general is lazy, if laziness is allowed and accepted.
If I am seeing your point correctly that the State os WI is wasting gobs of money on other things....... Two wrongs don't make a right. Just because the lawmakers make other mistakes doesn't mean we can't deal with this problem. But I do want to ask two questions What should we do about the budget problems? Do you believe in general public sector compensation is comparable to the private sector?
Yeah can't argue with this. Having a bidding process with qualified contractors would not be a bad thing.
Yeah this bill comes from a guy who leases a state vehicle for a $1,596.50 MONTHLY rental fee for up to 3,000 miles per month, plus 20 cents per mile beyond that.......what a ******bag!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank God Bass Pro Shops decided against building there.... Same ******BAG..... does this: Wetland Destruction Bill Passes on World Wetlands Day... http://www.mkeriverkeeper.org/content/wetland-destruction-bill-passes-world-wetlands-day
There are never easy answers concerning budgets. What is a waste of money to me are essential services to you and vice versa. If the state charges developers more because of their impact on roads, schools, utilities, etc. then the developers charge more for their houses and the citizens piss and moan about fees to developers charged by the state driving up housing costs. To fix most state budgets will require some austere measures and everyone is good with that as long as the measures affect someone else. Which brings us to public sector workers. They are always "paid too much and we can make cuts there". In reality, public sector pay lags private sector pay when a realistic job comparison is made. The problem is, no one makes realistic comparisons. That's why I keep asking what private school teachers make. You also have to take in working conditions. In public schools it is rare that a disruptive child is removed unless they become a danger to other children. The public teacher has to teach all the other children and deal with the disruptive child while meeting minimum educations standards set by the state. Go to a private school and ask them how they deal with disruptive children. Ask some public high school teachers how many times they have been threatened by a student. It may not happen much in Mayberry, RFD but I am betting in your citys the schools, elementary through high school, are a very tough job for a public school teacher. The state could save money and cut taxes by not financing a public school system.
Why do you suppose that the two highest cost health insurance plans in my town are both public employee unions that are funded with tax payer money? Our teachers still have a 90/10 health plan with a $100 family deductible, and no copayments! Our school is going bankrupt but they cant touch the health plan becasue it is protected by contract. The teachers on the bargaining committee say they would rather see teachers lose jobs from lack of funding rather than touch their health plan. Ofcourse the teachers on the committee are all veterans that know they would be safe from layoffs etc. Theres some nice representation for ya. Just interesting how the union mentality works to me. Seems the members are constantly being told that they deserve better, so they demand it, until the employer finally goes broke. Happens all the time. Fortunately for some, the government comes in and picks up the pieces. For others, the jobs move out of the country. Nice. It would be interesting to compare how many non-union positions are out there that dont require a degree (ie: mfg., janitorial, etc.), but provide high enough pay and benefits that the individual can comfortably retire at age 55. My guess is, not very damn many.
Good point Bruce..... here is an article from the Journal here in Milwaukee: Are some Milwaukee Public Schools out of control? "On Nov. 30, more than 39 squad cars responded to Bradley Tech High School. Police arrested nearly 20 students and seized a rifle and a fake handgun, according to Ald. Bob Donovan. On Dec. 1, 29 squads were assigned to patrol near the school, and on Dec. 2, 14 squads patrolled outside the school. The problem stemmed from a fight between two rival gangs. Several weeks ago, Flamond Hightower, a paraprofessional at Phillis Wheatley Elementary School, mistakenly sent a district wide e-mail expressing his frustration about students’ misbehavior and lack of respect in his school. The e-mail was titled: “Our School of Chaos.” Here’s an excerpt: “About 75% of our 5th - 8th grade students don't listen to anyone, that includes the Administrators. There seems to be no support of any kind. Children are allowed to call the shots (that's what it seems like). I've worked for MPS for almost 20 years now and I've never seen things so bad. All the Fighting, Cursing, Disrespect and Threats toward staff and other students has to/ and needs to stop ASAP.” Hightower has been put on administrative leave. I receive e-mails daily from frustrated teachers who say their schools are out of control and they don’t know where to turn. I have pushed for SEED schools; single-sex schools such as Urban Prep; and Violence Free Zones in every school to instill discipline and respect. The NAACP needs to be vocal on this matter as well. Education needs to be the civil rights issue of the 21st century. Without a high school diploma and some college, it is nearly impossible to compete in a global economy. This message must be stressed. And parents?!? We need to educate them, too. A mandatory parenting class is an idea. And for those who can’t make it in regular school, an alternative route must be made available, such as the Job Corp. Men have a role, too. We have to be role models at these schools. Too often, these young boys fail to see that they have options. I’m speaking at Lloyd Elementary School Thursday morning to a group of youths about a number of subjects. I can’t just talk about it unless I’m willing to help out. I can’t do it alone, and, let’s face it, MPS needs our help. Thoughts?"
This is my issue here, why we should make sure Amendent 28 passes this year on the federal side. If paycuts are what is needed, then they come across the board. All other extra perks go away, like car allowance I was in a budget meeting for our school district a few weeks ago. There were parents who were demanding we run schools and class rooms like a buisness. I stood up and said I thought it was a great idea, because now a teacher can hire and fire students in their class rooms, just like a business can. If a student is not getting high enough test scores. The teacher can fire them The teacher with the highest test scores gets the most money, so they can hire the best students We should be careful what we wish for. Some parents went silent
