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Embrace reality in teacher talks
The reason: the possiblity of teacher strikes.
Negotiations on new contracts are under way in the Washington, Canon-McMillan, McGuffey, Fort Cherry, Charleroi Area, Southeastern Greene and West Greene districts. Teachers at Intermediate Unit 1 and Greene County Career and Technology Center also are looking for new deals.
Details of the issues at hand in each district are not being made public, but it's a safe bet that the teachers unions are looking for higher pay and, at the minimum, the same level of benefits they are now receiving. On the other hand, districts, in an effort to control costs and avoid tax increases, are no doubt trying to minimize the raises and get the teachers to pick up more of the burden for their health insurance.
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In a recent story in this newspaper, Butch Santicola of the Pennsylvania State Education Association said the poor economy hasn't affected contract negotiations. In his opinion, perhaps, but try telling that to the people who are paying school taxes.
At last count, the unemployment rate in the two-county area was running about 8 percent, with indications that the employment situation could get worse before it gets better. Even if it doesn't, one of every dozen of your neighbors is out of work right now, and many of those who aren't are seeing salary freezes, pay cuts and reductions in benefits. And, yes, that includes newspaper people.
It's pretty clear how people who are scratching and scraping to pay their bills and avoid foreclosure on their homes might react to seeing a teachers union asking for 4 percent annual pay increases for its members, along with no sacrifices in the area of health benefits. The unions should be prepared for significant public outrage if they make such demands and, not having them met, decide to walk off their jobs.
Gone are the days when teachers received poor benefits and subsistence wages. Veteran teachers with master's degrees in our area receive salaries ranging from $50,000 to more than $80,000. And the 10- or 11-week summer vacation isn't such a bad perk, either.
Then there is the issue of teacher strikes, themselves.
Pennsylvania has no peers when it comes to the number of teachers toting picket signs each year. The Allegheny Institute reports that almost 60 percent of teacher strikes nationwide since 2000 have occurred in our state. In fact, Pennsylvania's figure (94) more than triples the number of walkouts in the next most strike-ridden state.
Pennsylvania is among the minority of states that allow teachers to strike, and perhaps the time has come to revisit the issue of barring teacher walkouts. It might require a change to the state constitution, and the growth of stiffer backbones by some of our elected officials who seem to have an aversion to crossing teachers unions, but like police officers and firefighters, teachers are public servants, and they cause disruption and harm to our children, and the parents of those children, when they abandon their responsibilities in order to walk picket lines.
Allegheny Institute argues that, absent a complete ban on strikes, there are steps that could be taken that would make walkouts unpalatable for unionized teachers. First, the institute suggests a penalty of two days' pay and benefits for every day teachers walk off their jobs. Second, the group suggests mandating a school year that provides 180 days of instruction by May 31, a move that would prevent teacher walkouts from dragging the school year past it's usual end.
No one denies that teachers have difficult and demanding jobs, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for the service they provide in our society. But at some point, those same teachers must recognize the economic realities in the communities where they work.
teacher talks : 7/2/2009
This is the same editorial I've read every summer for the last 35 years. The words may have changed but the same negativity comes shining through. It's time to pick on somebody else.
Just Rediculous! : 7/2/2009
I get sick everytime I hear these teachers who go on strikes for weeks and the students are not getting an education. They should realize that not every job gives their employees raises and that the money has to come from the taxpayers in general. (Of whom, may not have children in school anymore, have any children at all, or children that don't use that school system.)
Wah! : 7/3/2009
The most picked on are the tax payers. Do you want some cheese to go with your "wine"?
Public Education ?? : 7/3/2009
Public schools at one time in History were there to educate out children, not to provide the best: Football, Track, Swimming, Baseball facilities money can buy! Spend the bulk of the tax dollars on tools to educate the children , less on games!!!
Maybe it is others? : 7/3/2009
One should look to the School Boards too. The boards can put in new bleachers, talk about new unnecessary facilities, but offer little to the teachers (the most important part for the children). But when the time comes to raise taxes, the boards are quick to blame teacher contracts rather than their pet projects that the taxpayer is paying for.
Teachers : 7/4/2009
It is good to see they understand the economy they are living in. Teachers should get a raise based on CPI which is 0. Nice to see that they still live on fantasy Island
Wah! : 7/4/2009
Get real-- an educated society is worth every penny you pay in taxes.
Lets consider : 7/5/2009
This is the usual mix of dung and diamonds I have become used to from the Observer. Strike posture of journalistic distance and then spew a bunch of mean spirited blame fixing. But there is one thing I think we should consider just like the article describes. Teachers should probably have their final contracts arbitrated just like police and firefighters do. Actually this process is available already on a voluntary basis, but the school boards typically refuse to agree because they are too busy building monuments to themselves in brick and mortar.
Teachers : 7/6/2009
Teach class 180 days, handful of in-service days, perhaps a couple of evenings of parent-teacher conferences, 3 month paid summer vacation, one of the best pension plans in the country, extremely limited reasons why one can be fired, and strict hours of work and non-work during the day. Best job security around. Day ends promptly in early afternoon. Some teachers use the same lesson plan from year to year so as to minimize any work they do at all. No health care contribution at all except for the co-pay. Teachers have it very good yet they fail to realize it. Asking only 4%? Get real. I'm a member of a Wash County bargaining unit and my wish for a simple contract was drowned out by cries for 8-9% increases and no health care contribution. Sorry I'm only 1 in a unit of over 150. Sorry to the public.
