Wisconsin Union Law Upheld

[flacaltenn]

Just a little update to the skirmish in Wisconsin..

http://www.postcrescent.com/article/...rement-savings

KAUKAUNA — As changes to collective bargaining powers for public workers take effect today, the Kaukauna Area School District is poised to swing from a projected $400,000 budget shortfall next year to a $1.5 million surplus due to health care and retirement savings.

The Kaukauna School Board approved changes Monday to its employee handbook that require staff to cover 12.6 percent of their health insurance and to contribute 5.8 percent of their wages to the state’s pension system, in accordance with the new collective bargaining law, commonly known as Act 10.

“These impacts will allow the district to hire additional teachers (and) reduce projected class sizes,” School Board President Todd Arnoldussen wrote in a statement Monday. “In addition, time will be available for staff to identify and support students needing individual assistance through individual and small group experiences.”

The district anticipates that elementary class size projections for next year will shrink from 26 students to 23 students

I know folks are gonna hate me for posting this.. But it's important to follow-thru on all the shouting.. Looks like the kids are winning. The teachers are paying 2.5% more for their healthcare (now at a whopping 12.6% of cost) and about 5% towards their GENEROUS pensions. PROBABLY concessions the union was willing to make voluntarily anyway to avoid the furor. A little heavy-handed, but there was not a lotta time to kibbutz.

Another result of this is that the healthcare premiums (which HAD to be purchased thru the WEA union) are now being bidded out -- and as a result -- WEA is quoting a significant reduction to the state. Ain't competition great?

Not making friends am I?

[BlueStreak]

Exactly how does any of that mean "...the kids are winning." Explain that one to me. How does making the teachers pay 2.5% more for their healthcare make an iota of difference to "the kids"? There was enough time to "kibbutz" if the union was willing to concede these things anyways. That was not why there was such a rush. No, the a-hole governor needed to appear tough and put on a big show for his a-hole supporters. That's what this was all about.

"Kids", my ass. This entire episode didn't have a darn thing to do with "the kids". This was politics, plain and simple.

Dave

[JJIII]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

Exactly how does any of that mean "...the kids are winning." Explain that one to me.

"Kids", my ass. This entire episode didn't have a darn thing to do with "the kids". This was politics, plain and simple.

Dave

I'm not sure but maybe this has something to do with it?

“These impacts will allow the district to hire additional teachers (and) reduce projected class sizes,” School Board President Todd Arnoldussen wrote in a statement Monday. “In addition, time will be available for staff to identify and support students needing individual assistance through individual and small group experiences.”

[flacaltenn]

JJIII got the first two advantages for "the kids". Smaller classes, more teachers.

A $1.2Mil$ surplus instead of the deficit means A LOT to "the kids" in general. Maybe a field trip to the cheese factory. (love that Kaukauhna Cheese spread).

The teachers also get merit pay. Which is an incentive for them to not act like Atlanta teachers..

Kaukauna High School classes could be reduced from 31 students to 25 students.

The new rules and updated operating budget also institute $300,000 in merit pay for staff next year, to be awarded at the school board’s discretion.

[BlueStreak]

"merit pay" is a rip-off that generally starts with a reduction in compensation, and a faint promise to "maybe" make partially whole "if" certain goals are met. Then the buddy system kicks in to ensure those raises only go to certain people who don't necessarily contribute anything at all. Seen it a dozen times. This is the type of ubiquitous corruption that already exists in the private sector. Such bulls**t.

That's the real world.

As for the reduction of class sizes, that could be a good thing.

Dave

[piece-itpete]

Originally Posted by flacaltenn

.... Which is an incentive for them to not act like Atlanta teachers..

BAM!

Pete