Numbers for Michigan teachers according to what I find:
Average beginning salary: 35K
Overall average: 57K
Note: Not a teacher, no relations that are teachers.
Michigan shows up as #7 in teacher salaries.
...and just about dead last in per capita student accomplishment as well as drop out rate.
The MTA and the union contracts limit the control state and local governments have to facilitate or adjust contracts when funding is down, which it is. Things like paid health insurance for life, guaranteed pay increases based on tenure instead of work performance and other perks need to be addressed.
My take is, as a teacher, you choose that profession, no one twisted your arm or coerced you, it was voluntary. When funding is sown, deal with it. At least you are working and doing what you like to do. It's not for me. I have a teaching certification but I can't deal with recalcitrant kids....or posters for that matter......
This all leads back to the 'Kubota Factory' in as much as Kubota feels that they can staff the new factory with labor at a rate not comensurate with a 'living wage'. More power to them. I won't be there applying, but then, I don't have to.
I read a post a few back concerning the 'quality' of the domestic plant versus it's Japan based counterpart.
My comment is this:
Both loaders that came on my tractors (the M9 and the 105) were assembled stateside, from sourced domestic components.
Both loaders suffer from poor paint jobs (I had to go and repaint parts on both). I don't consider paint to be a mechanical issue however...
The welding on both loaders is at best, cobbly, not something that would be acceptable in Japan by a long shot. I'm in the welding business and I would never consider the sloppy welding on the loaders to be commercially acceptable. The welds are structurally strong but appearance wise, are poor and as I stated, the paint is unacceptable. Some places have sags and runs and others were bare.
I commented to my dealer about that and he replied that both were made in Georgia. I can see a 12 buck an hour welder doing that, or a 12 buck an hour painter...... You get what you pay for. Pay low wages you get low quality and low self esteem and of course the lack of craftsmanship and pride in product.
I'll take a Japanese built loader any day over the domestic counterpart.