NJ Teacher's Union refusing minor paycut

TechBoyJK

Lifer
Oct 17, 2002
16,699
60
91
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...al-local-leader-prayed-death/?test=latestnews

N.J. Governor Undeterred by Teachers Union Refusal to Fire Leader Who Prayed for His Death

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday refused to back down from his demand that teachers start contributing to their health care benefits as the state teachers union declined to take action against a local boss who prayed for the governor's death.


New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie refused to back down Tuesday from his demand that teachers take a pay freeze and start contributing to their health care benefits as the state teachers union declined to take action against a local boss who prayed for the governor's death.

Christie, a first-term Republican, told Fox News that he met with New Jersey Education Association Chief Barbara Keshishian on Monday to discuss the schools funding formula and an e-mail sent by Bergen County Education Association President Joe Coppola that mocked the governor.

In that e-mail to union leaders, Coppola proposed a plan of action to protest Christie's budget proposals, which call for teachers to take a one-year pay freeze and pay 1.5 percent of their salary toward their medical, dental and vision benefits.

At the end, he included the statement: "Dear Lord, you've taken away my favorite actor Patrick Swayze, my favorite actress Farrah Fawcett, my favorite singer Michael Jackson and my favorite salesman Billy Mayes. I just want you to know that Chris Christie is my favorite governor."

Keshishian apologized for the memo but refused to oblige Christie's request that Coppola be fired.

"If a member of my staff ... had said something like that about her, they'd be demanding his resignation. But you know what? They wouldn't have had to wait because I'd have fired him,' Christie said. He said Kershishian responded to the request by saying no.

"And she left my office, in a huff," he added.

Christie added that $820 million in state aid cuts, primarily for school lunches, art teachers and language classes, among other programs, wouldn't have to go if the teachers union would agree to a one-year pay freeze and to pay 1.5 percent of their salary toward their medical, dental and vision benefits.

"That would save $800 million and wipe out all but $20 million of our cuts, and there'd be no layoffs, there'd be no program cuts, and all of the stuff is about the union's greed rather than putting the kids first," Christie said.

He said 11 local unions agreed to the deal, but the central leadership won't approve the freeze and contributions.

"This is a union boss problem ... clear and simple and here's the proof of it: If they are so concerned about the $750 a year that teachers have to pay, you know, their dues that they make every teacher pay are $730 a year. Just about the same amount. It raises $130 million a year for the teachers union. How about they just try and get by on the $130 million they got last year, waive the dues for this year and then their teachers would be held harmless?" he asked.

Without mentioning the dust-up over Coppola, Keshishian issued a statement on Tuesday saying Christie "has taken his attack on public schools to an irresponsible new low."

"Gov. Christie apparently has no qualms about robbing New Jersey's 1.4 million students of their chance at a quality public education. But to do so while insisting on a significant tax cut to New Jersey residents who earn over $400,000 per year is an inexplicable and unconscionable position to take," she said.

New Jersey already has one of the highest state taxes in the nation, and Christie was elected last November in large part on his pledge to shrink the size of state government, which has imposed 115 new taxes on residents in the last eight years.

Christie responded that the union's solution is to impose a 1.75 percent increase on taxpayers earning more than $400,000 to make their state taxes 10.75 percent. He noted that of the 63,000 filers who have incomes over $400,000, more than half are small businesses.

He added that the state's system is unsustainable because teachers who contribute $124,000 during their lifetime for their pensions get $3.3 million in pension payments and $500,000 in health care benefits in return.

"That's why we're broke," he said. "These are small things that will mean a lot in terms of helping the budget deficit and we have gotten absolute refusal from the state teachers union."
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I don't know much about this situation, but it sounds like the Governor is spot on, and the central leadership of the union is being greedy. The Gov outlined a plan to keep everyone's job without impacting the overall pay of the teacher's too dramatically. Even though many smaller components of the union are for it, the central leadership is refusing, and spinning it back at the Governor saying he's an idiot.

After seeing what happened in Rhode Island, I'd think these unions would be a little more cooperative.
 

Patranus

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2007
9,280
0
0
He should pull a Reagan.

Tell them to fuck off, tell the ones who want to work they can have a job, fill the remaining vacancies.

In this job market I would like to see the teachers who want to strike find a job......
 

ccbadd

Senior member
Jan 19, 2004
456
0
76
He should pull a Reagan.

Tell them to fuck off, tell the ones who want to work they can have a job, fill the remaining vacancies.

In this job market I would like to see the teachers who want to strike find a job......

There are quite a few, not all, that couldn't find a job in a good market!
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,402
8,574
126
a one-year pay freeze and to pay 1.5 percent of their salary toward their medical, dental and vision benefits.

sounds downright reasonable in the current economy. what are teachers paid in NJ?
 

evident

Lifer
Apr 5, 2005
12,130
749
126
sounds downright reasonable in the current economy. what are teachers paid in NJ?
a shit-ton. I know some NJ teachers who retired at 50. Teachers actually serve a purpose, their corrupt cops average over 100k a year piss me off even more.
 

1prophet

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
5,313
534
126
sounds downright reasonable in the current economy. what are teachers paid in NJ?

Don't know about the pay, but those retirement benefits aren't too shabby.

He added that the state's system is unsustainable because teachers who contribute $124,000 during their lifetime for their pensions get $3.3 million in pension payments and $500,000 in health care benefits in return.
 

bruceb

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2004
8,874
111
106
Let them refuse it. It will result in Layoffs, which in the long run, will be worse for the teachers all around. And let us watch and see how or if voters approve school budgets that call for increased taxes. In my view, it may be time to be rid of public schools and government run waste. Make them private with some town subsidy and the rest in tuition cost. People that need them will pay their fair share, as opposed to homeowners with no kids having to pay for your kids education. Taxes are out of sight and must be controlled.
 

Slew Foot

Lifer
Sep 22, 2005
12,379
96
86
Unions are out of their fucking mind. The nurses union in CA is going to go on strike because they didnt like the 5% raise they were getting.
 

Siddhartha

Lifer
Oct 17, 1999
12,505
3
81
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...al-local-leader-prayed-death/?test=latestnews

N.J. Governor Undeterred by Teachers Union Refusal to Fire Leader Who Prayed for His Death

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday refused to back down from his demand that teachers start contributing to their health care benefits as the state teachers union declined to take action against a local boss who prayed for the governor's death.


New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie refused to back down Tuesday from his demand that teachers take a pay freeze and start contributing to their health care benefits as the state teachers union declined to take action against a local boss who prayed for the governor's death.

Christie, a first-term Republican, told Fox News that he met with New Jersey Education Association Chief Barbara Keshishian on Monday to discuss the schools funding formula and an e-mail sent by Bergen County Education Association President Joe Coppola that mocked the governor.

In that e-mail to union leaders, Coppola proposed a plan of action to protest Christie's budget proposals, which call for teachers to take a one-year pay freeze and pay 1.5 percent of their salary toward their medical, dental and vision benefits.

At the end, he included the statement: "Dear Lord, you've taken away my favorite actor Patrick Swayze, my favorite actress Farrah Fawcett, my favorite singer Michael Jackson and my favorite salesman Billy Mayes. I just want you to know that Chris Christie is my favorite governor."

Keshishian apologized for the memo but refused to oblige Christie's request that Coppola be fired.

"If a member of my staff ... had said something like that about her, they'd be demanding his resignation. But you know what? They wouldn't have had to wait because I'd have fired him,' Christie said. He said Kershishian responded to the request by saying no.

"And she left my office, in a huff," he added.

Christie added that $820 million in state aid cuts, primarily for school lunches, art teachers and language classes, among other programs, wouldn't have to go if the teachers union would agree to a one-year pay freeze and to pay 1.5 percent of their salary toward their medical, dental and vision benefits.

"That would save $800 million and wipe out all but $20 million of our cuts, and there'd be no layoffs, there'd be no program cuts, and all of the stuff is about the union's greed rather than putting the kids first," Christie said.

He said 11 local unions agreed to the deal, but the central leadership won't approve the freeze and contributions.

"This is a union boss problem ... clear and simple and here's the proof of it: If they are so concerned about the $750 a year that teachers have to pay, you know, their dues that they make every teacher pay are $730 a year. Just about the same amount. It raises $130 million a year for the teachers union. How about they just try and get by on the $130 million they got last year, waive the dues for this year and then their teachers would be held harmless?" he asked.

Without mentioning the dust-up over Coppola, Keshishian issued a statement on Tuesday saying Christie "has taken his attack on public schools to an irresponsible new low."

"Gov. Christie apparently has no qualms about robbing New Jersey's 1.4 million students of their chance at a quality public education. But to do so while insisting on a significant tax cut to New Jersey residents who earn over $400,000 per year is an inexplicable and unconscionable position to take," she said.

New Jersey already has one of the highest state taxes in the nation, and Christie was elected last November in large part on his pledge to shrink the size of state government, which has imposed 115 new taxes on residents in the last eight years.

Christie responded that the union's solution is to impose a 1.75 percent increase on taxpayers earning more than $400,000 to make their state taxes 10.75 percent. He noted that of the 63,000 filers who have incomes over $400,000, more than half are small businesses.

He added that the state's system is unsustainable because teachers who contribute $124,000 during their lifetime for their pensions get $3.3 million in pension payments and $500,000 in health care benefits in return.

"That's why we're broke," he said. "These are small things that will mean a lot in terms of helping the budget deficit and we have gotten absolute refusal from the state teachers union."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't know much about this situation, but it sounds like the Governor is spot on, and the central leadership of the union is being greedy. The Gov outlined a plan to keep everyone's job without impacting the overall pay of the teacher's too dramatically. Even though many smaller components of the union are for it, the central leadership is refusing, and spinning it back at the Governor saying he's an idiot.

After seeing what happened in Rhode Island, I'd think these unions would be a little more cooperative.

Lets see you take a pay cut first and then get back to us.
 

Nemesis 1

Lifer
Dec 30, 2006
11,366
2
0
Governor should now add to his request a real pay cut . God knows these teachers failed miserably at their jobs.
 

episodic

Lifer
Feb 7, 2004
11,088
2
81
Actually, it does not sound reasonable at all.

Teachers often do not get but small cost of living increases each year. Where I'm at, I have lots of family that are in the profession, and the small raise they get usually - barely - covers the rise in insurance premiums. Teachers don't get alot of money in most places. My cousin has to pay over 850 a month for her family plan insurance (not including dental/vision).

If you want to cut education spending - how about testing. Cut that out. That'd save hundreds of millions. Stop transporting kids to school - end the school bus. Let that be the parent's job to get them there. Look at administrative salaries and positions. Look at sports programs. There are lots of places to slash. Leave teachers alone.

The deal is when times are good and the person that went into business/engineering/something else - they get nice raises, bonuses, etc - teachers - not at all. When times are bad - teachers should not have to go backwards in pay. Teachers even in the best of economies only get meager raises while everyone else gets great ones - they should keep what meager raises they get in the bad economies, too.

I don't want to get into the whole union argument - however, I am grateful for a semi normal workweek with time off with family. Thank you unions of old.
 
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Darwin333

Lifer
Dec 11, 2006
19,946
2,329
126
Lets see you take a pay cut first and then get back to us.

Did you not read this part?

He added that the state's system is unsustainable because teachers who contribute $124,000 during their lifetime for their pensions get $3.3 million in pension payments and $500,000 in health care benefits in return.


You got some magical mathematical formula in which the above is even remotely sustainable, especially considering that its very likely that a ton of their other state jobs have similar benefits?
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
Governor should now add to his request a real pay cut . God knows these teachers failed miserably at their jobs.
New Jersey has some of the best schools in the country.

but I'm on the governor's side here... it's funny to see the breakdown amongst my friends -- everyone who lives at home supports the teacher's unions and everyone who is getting assraped by property taxes supports the governor.
 

woolfe9999

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2005
7,153
0
0
NJ teacher's salaries are already some of the highest in the country. If they were way below average, I'd have more sympathy with the union's position. As it stands, I agree with Christy here.

- wolf
 

woolfe9999

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2005
7,153
0
0
Governor should now add to his request a real pay cut . God knows these teachers failed miserably at their jobs.

Well, given that our educational system has produced, among other things, people who think the world is going to blow up in 2012, I'd have to say you're right.

- wolf
 

thegimp03

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2004
7,420
2
81
More unions being greedy, no surprise here. A 1 year pay freeze is nothing. Better to do that than have to lay off teachers and cut school programs. Most working people didn't get raises last year, including myself, but I was much happier with that than I would have been with the possibility of losing my job.
 

Corn

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 1999
6,389
29
91
LOL, another lefty shows his true colors by mocking the passing of celebs and wishing death on the Governor. I'd like to say I'm suprised, but lefties are more and more proving to be quite a bloodthirsty lot. Disturbed fuckers they are......probably what makes 'em lefties to begin with.
 

BoberFett

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
37,562
9
81
Lets see you take a pay cut first and then get back to us.

Many in the private sector are taking paycuts, you fucktard. I personally took a 16% in August to save some of my employees from getting paycuts, and ended up getting laid off last month anyway. Fuck these greedy teachers.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
167
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
Many in the private sector are taking paycuts, you fucktard. I personally took a 16% in August to save some of my employees from getting paycuts, and ended up getting laid off last month anyway. Fuck these greedy teachers.

You're forgetting that half the time, the coin comes up heads. In times of prosperity, those teachers are still locked into their contracts, while others are getting significant pay raises or bonuses.
 

ShawnD1

Lifer
May 24, 2003
15,987
2
81
You're forgetting that half the time, the coin comes up heads. In times of prosperity, those teachers are still locked into their contracts, while others are getting significant pay raises or bonuses.
Pretty much this. Teaching sucks but it's very stable. Their insane pensions are healthcare are a reward given in exchange for low salaries.