Pro union/Anti Union ?

[Dozernut]

Junkman
Things are different here. My wife is a school teacher and has been for several years. Her salary is just now at the level that you gave for entry level educators in your area. She teaches because she wants to, not for a high paying position. We sure would have had an easier time if her salary was what you indicated. It must be a regional thing because it is not happening around here.

 

[Junkman]

As I pointed out, it is a very localized situation as to the pay scales. MA & CT are both have one of the highest entry level teacher positions. In these states, the teachers union is very powerful and gets what they want. There is a great disparity between the educational systems from state to state, as well as the teachers pay. It would be interesting if someone could find the highest ranking state for teachers pay, as well as the lowest paying. I begrudge them nothing.... I wouldn't ever be a teacher. I have lived with two of them, and they both could tell horror stories of what it is like.

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> It would be interesting if someone could find the highest ranking state for teachers pay, as well as the lowest paying. </font>
Average salaries by state
Average starting salaries

 

[Bob_Skurka]

AndyM, my wife didn't have any problems getting hired, but it was probably pure luck. On the other hand she has had her run ins with her teachers union. The contract says they are done at 3:15pm. One of her added duties was to make sure all the kids got on the bus. The problem was that all the kids were not loaded until about 3:30pm every day. So the lovely Mrs_Bob would stay and make sure the kids were all loaded. Being a parent, she felt it was right to make sure the kids were safe. Being a responsible adult, she felt it was right to make sure the kids were safe. Being a former senior manager, her work ethic is such that she is not done until the job is actually finished. Being a former senior manager, she felt that there was liability if a kid would have been kidnapped, injured, etc if she walked off the job before the last kid was on the bus. So then the other teachers started telling her to walk off the job when the contract said to. And then the union steward said to do that. And she would not. So she has no friends who are teachers. But she did what was right. It is a horrible shame that the other teachers and the union steward are so ignorant and cannot see that they are responsible for the kids.

 

[MadReferee]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ... she felt that there was liability if a kid would have been kidnapped, injured, etc if she walked off the job before the last kid was on the bus. )</font>

The only problem I see here is that by doing the right thing she has set herself up to personally take the fall liability wise, if something does happen to those kids after normal union working hours. Since by contract the teachers are probably not responsibe for thoise kids after contract hours, I would not be surprised if whatever liability insurance that the union has is not in force once normal working hours are over. And that if she were sued the union would not stand behind her because she was not on union time.

Management negotiated that contract (good or bad depending on what side you are on) so let them staff it after normal working hours. That's why the rest of the teachers are shunning her.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Mad, I think my wife would yell at you. In fact, I am sure of it. She couldn't give a rat's pitookie if the other teachers shun her, because she does her job properly and that is why she gave up a high paying career to become a teacher. She will do what's right, and she will continue to do it because it is the right thing to do. She is very anti-union, and she has told them that. Our state requires her to have the membership to get the job, but she is, and always will be, a responsible person who won't back down.

 

[Junkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...................Since by contract the teachers are probably not responsibe for thoise kids after contract hours, I would not be surprised if whatever liability insurance that the union has is not in force once normal working hours are over. And that if she were sued the union would not stand behind her because she was not on union time. ..............
)</font>

The union doesn't insure the teachers or the student, the school department does that. As for liability, I believe that a jury would look at the actions and decide if that is "what a logical and prudent person" would do and say yes. The contract might specify the time that you have to be at work and the time that you are allowed to leave, but I don't believe that the union could hamper you from putting in extra time. Teachers do it all the time offering extra help to students that need or want it. These are the type of teachers that deserve the high $$$, but unfortunately, the system rewards both good and bad teachers. It is called "tenure".... you can't get rid of them once they have been there for a certain period of time, no matter how bad they are, and they get the salary increases also. I have lived with two teachers, and I know first hand that they can and do make a difference when they care to....

 

[Gatorboy]

<font color="blue"> How about you? </font>

Anti-Union, because I prefer productivity.

 

[MadReferee]

I am not disagreeing with your wife. I spent 3 years as a high school athletic director and was a non-union employee. But I was just trying to point out that she can probably not expect any help from the union if somethng does happen and she might even be held responsible by management's insurance or the victim. Being in the middle of two or three warring factions is not fun and could be expensive.

Laywers and insurance companies, well I don't even want to go there.

 

[Durbob]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> How about you? </font>

Anti-Union, because I prefer productivity. )</font>

<font color="black"> </font>
I think Gatorboy said it all in that little sentence!