Ottawa teachers on strike

[momto4]

www.newstrib.com/articles/news/local/default.asp?Article=68EB10F213F12F57B9358E03AA7F26168B332F5DC52D8A11

Ottawa teachers to strike

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

By NT Staff
[e-mail]
A four-hour meeting Tuesday failed to resolve salary and insurance issues between the Ottawa Township High School board and the teacher’s union.

Glenn Weatherford of the teacher’s union says teachers will strike as planned starting around 7:45 a.m today.

The high school will be closed and all activities are cancelled. The school has about 1,500 and 153 teachers. Ottawa is scheduled to play L-P on Friday at Howard Fellows Stadium. The game still could be played if both sides settle early Friday. In that case, it is possible that the game could be played on Saturday or that L-P could refuse and still get a 2-0 win.

Board chairman George "Skip" Hupp stated the board is seeking a 20 percent contribution towards the difference in the cost of single coverage versus family coverage. That equals $86.05 per paycheck or $172.10 per month. Currently, the school’s 113 teachers contribute nothing, and the average salary of a teacher is $68,138.

Hupp said given the Illinois Valley’s, and country’s, current economic climate and the district’s financial health and overall compensation and benefits, the proposal was fair.

[momto4]

The board's proposal seems fair compared to what is expected of employees in the private sector, however this would make for a large pay cut for the teachers employed in the district who have family health coverage. I wonder what the norm is for their surrounding districts.

[asmodeus]

I have no sympathy for these teachers.

[doc]

Sept 30, 2009 7:24:19 GMT -5 momto4 said:

www.newstrib.com/articles/news/local/default.asp?Article=68EB10F213F12F57B9358E03AA7F26168B332F5DC52D8A11

Ottawa teachers to strike

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

By NT Staff
[e-mail]
A four-hour meeting Tuesday failed to resolve salary and insurance issues between the Ottawa Township High School board and the teacher’s union.

Glenn Weatherford of the teacher’s union says teachers will strike as planned starting around 7:45 a.m today.

The high school will be closed and all activities are cancelled. The school has about 1,500 and 153 teachers. Ottawa is scheduled to play L-P on Friday at Howard Fellows Stadium. The game still could be played if both sides settle early Friday. In that case, it is possible that the game could be played on Saturday or that L-P could refuse and still get a 2-0 win.

Board chairman George "Skip" Hupp stated the board is seeking a 20 percent contribution towards the difference in the cost of single coverage versus family coverage. That equals $86.05 per paycheck or $172.10 per month. Currently, the school’s 113 teachers contribute nothing, and the average salary of a teacher is $68,138.

Hupp said given the Illinois Valley’s, and country’s, current economic climate and the district’s financial health and overall compensation and benefits, the proposal was fair.

I work for one of the largest company's in the world and have been paying easily more than double that contribution % for 5-10 years now...
some professions need to understand what the real world situations are also.

I can't think of a single corporation where people contribute $0 since the turn of the century.

also can't think of any non union company that has a traditional benefits pension any longer either - we all lost ours 10 years ago.

[doc]

Sept 30, 2009 7:27:08 GMT -5 momto4 said:

The board's proposal seems fair compared to what is expected of employees in the private sector, however this would make for a large pay cut for the teachers employed in the district who have family health coverage. I wonder what the norm is for their surrounding districts.

I paid zero 10 years ago- today I pay over $800/month - that was a pay cut for me also was it not- and for every other private sector employee ?

No one said this was a painless situation, however most of us have already gone thru it...
oh, and no cost of living increases, and raises extremely rare- one is told " be glad you have a job " .

I think that is why some don't get that every additional tax increase etc. adds to the burden of the average citizen ( like in 204 ) - and why some are saying - enough is enough, can't do any more.

[momto4]

Sept 30, 2009 9:27:16 GMT -5 doc said:

Sept 30, 2009 7:27:08 GMT -5 momto4 said:

The board's proposal seems fair compared to what is expected of employees in the private sector, however this would make for a large pay cut for the teachers employed in the district who have family health coverage. I wonder what the norm is for their surrounding districts.

I paid zero 10 years ago- today I pay over $800/month - that was a pay cut for me also was it not- and for every other private sector employee ?

No one said this was a painless situation, however most of us have already gone thru it...
oh, and no cost of living increases, and raises extremely rare- one is told " be glad you have a job " .

I think that is why some don't get that every additional tax increase etc. adds to the burden of the average citizen ( like in 204 ) - and why some are saying - enough is enough, can't do any more.

Here is a topic in which we are in agreement

I also pay significantly more than this for my family's (company provided) insurance.

I think they are being generous to offer to pay the full cost for individual coverage and 80% of the additional cost for family coverage. They could have everyone contribute as most companies do, and they could have those with family coverage pay a more significant percentage of the difference.

If the teachers don't pay the $$ toward their benefits, the money has to come from somewhere...

[doc]

Sept 30, 2009 9:58:01 GMT -5 momto4 said:

Sept 30, 2009 9:27:16 GMT -5 doc said:

I paid zero 10 years ago- today I pay over $800/month - that was a pay cut for me also was it not- and for every other private sector employee ?

No one said this was a painless situation, however most of us have already gone thru it...
oh, and no cost of living increases, and raises extremely rare- one is told " be glad you have a job " .

I think that is why some don't get that every additional tax increase etc. adds to the burden of the average citizen ( like in 204 ) - and why some are saying - enough is enough, can't do any more.

Here is a topic in which we are in agreement

I also pay significantly more than this for my family's (company provided) insurance.

I think they are being generous to offer to pay the full cost for individual coverage and 80% of the additional cost for family coverage. They could have everyone contribute as most companies do, and they could have those with family coverage pay a more significant percentage of the difference.

If the teachers don't pay the $$ toward their benefits, the money has to come from somewhere...

And now our Prez is proposing longer school days and more of them -- someone better talk to the unions who have to have time off for meetings, let alone staying hours more per day and for more hours. Where will that $$ come from, likely have to hire more teachers. Good luck

[momto4]

Sept 30, 2009 10:43:17 GMT -5 doc said:

And now our Prez is proposing longer school days and more of them -- someone better talk to the unions who have to have time off for meetings, let alone staying hours more per day and for more hours. Where will that $$ come from, likely have to hire more teachers. Good luck

You already know I stand firmly against longer school days and a longer school year! Additional help for those who need it in places where it can be funded, sure. I hope the pres. does not get everything he wants.

[wvhsparent]

Sept 30, 2009 9:58:01 GMT -5 momto4 said:

Sept 30, 2009 9:27:16 GMT -5 doc said:

I paid zero 10 years ago- today I pay over $800/month - that was a pay cut for me also was it not- and for every other private sector employee ?

No one said this was a painless situation, however most of us have already gone thru it...
oh, and no cost of living increases, and raises extremely rare- one is told " be glad you have a job " .

I think that is why some don't get that every additional tax increase etc. adds to the burden of the average citizen ( like in 204 ) - and why some are saying - enough is enough, can't do any more.

Here is a topic in which we are in agreement

I also pay significantly more than this for my family's (company provided) insurance.

I think they are being generous to offer to pay the full cost for individual coverage and 80% of the additional cost for family coverage. They could have everyone contribute as most companies do, and they could have those with family coverage pay a more significant percentage of the difference.

If the teachers don't pay the $$ toward their benefits, the money has to come from somewhere...

Here is something I think the majority of people agree on. Even though I work for a governmental entity, I still have to pay for family coverage, and it's more than twice what they are being asked to pay.

This is also why I feel teachers should not be able to strike, rather have to go to binding arbitration..........

[momto4]

www.newstrib.com/articles/news/local/default.asp?article=144ADEFE41A9BDCEDE35FFC3764EBF1915657597342C4348

(photo)
Teachers at Ottawa Township High School march the picket line along Main Street in Ottawa this morning after deciding to strike late Tuesday night. Teachers are negotiating with school board officials over salary and insurance.

Ottawa Township High School teacher Tracey O’Fallon had to stop to wipe away tears and compose herself before continuing to answer questions about why she went on strike.

“We know how we touch our students’ lives,” O’Fallon said. “We’ll be out here as long as it takes.”

More than 60 teachers including O’Fallon gathered at about 8 a.m. today to begin marching along Main Street in Ottawa in front of the high school as Day One of the OTHS teacher’s strike began.Ottawa Township High School Education Association union head Glenn Weatherford said the picket will go on during normal school hours, from about 7:45 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. each school day.

“Personally, to settle this, I would contribute (some of my paycheck to help pay insurance) but I have to think of my membership and what we want as a whole,” O’Fallon said.

The high school board and OTHS Education Association teacher’s union met for four hours Tuesday afternoon for a final chance to avoid this morning’s strike. Some issues were resolved, but no agreement was reached on the most contentious issue facing both sides: health insurance.

The 1,500-student district has 113 teachers making an average salary of $68,138. Teachers do not contribute for their insurance benefits, but the board is insisting upon a three-year contract that requires teachers to pay a portion of their own insurance per paycheck.

Picketers wore the school’s crimson and white and carried a variety of signs, some reading, “Rather Be Teaching,” “Quality Teachers = Quality Pay,” and “Support OTHSEA” as citizens drove by, some honking their car horns in support.

Most picketers refused to talk to members of the media. Some rudely declined while others more politely stated they were directed not to speak publicly and to defer all questions to union leaders.

Stacie Walton, UniServ director for Illinois Education Association — National Education Association (IEA-NEA) Region 15, said picketers were directed to avoid media contact so their message could be unified.

“We need a consistent message,” she said, “these people are fighting for their families and that’s the message.”

One of the picketers, Julie Mantzke, former president of the teacher’s union and a teacher of 14 years, said she was disappointed the board and union could not reach a settlement on Tuesday.

“Four years ago we settled a one-year contract with the intent that we would look closely at insurance,” she said. “The teachers formed an insurance committee and made recommendations but nothing was done.

“Now, they want us to pay a percentage of a fluctuating cost while they give the third-party administrator a raise,” she said. “We didn’t want it to come to this. We want to be in the classroom with our kids.”

Negotiation specifics

According to a press release made public by the board late Tuesday, the board offered a 1 percent salary increase on the base salary for each year of a two-or three-year contract, no insurance contribution from the teaching staff for single coverage, and an insurance contribution by the teachers for family coverage of $172 per month in Year 1, with a subsequent contribution not to exceed $215 per month, and $269 per month in Years 2 and 3, respectively.

The board also proposed including additional wellness benefits of $350 per family member covered by the health insurance plan.

Board chairman George “Skip” Hupp said the proposal was fair given the Illinois Valley’s current economic climate and the district’s financial health and teachers’ overall compensation and benefits.

“We explained our proposal to them, (and then) they caucused their people,” Hupp said. “When they came back they rejected the proposal, left no counter offer, and left.”

Weatherford said the insurance proposal wasn’t a set figure and could change annually based on who the board hires as a third-party administrator.

This, Weatherford said, was unacceptable.

“Basically, their proposal didn’t change and we couldn’t do anything to avoid a strike,” he said.

According to the district’s press release, the last formal proposal from the OTHSEA included no contribution for insurance and an increase of $1,600, $1,600, and $1,700 on the base for each of the three years of the contract, respectively. The first-year increase to the base would equate to a 4.67 percent base increase, a 7.3-percent average increase for the faculty as a whole, with a maximum increase of 10.2 percent.

“While the OTHSEA has indicated its willingness to modify this proposal they have not yet done so,” according to the board’s statement.

“Now we wait for them to accept our insurance proposal,” Hupp said. “They’ll have to ask us for another meeting.”

[wvhsparent]

The insurance proposal is not bad IMO. One also has to remember that Insurance premiums are pre-tax dollars so it's taken out before taxes are computed.

Again it's a wake up call for the teachers.....welcome to the real world.

I hahte it when the teachers say "we want to teach" and "we know we touch the childrens lives" and then in the next breath say " we'll be out here as long as it takes".

It's not like they are being poorly paid.......

[asmodeus]

the last formal proposal from the OTHSEA included no contribution for insurance and an increase of $1,600, $1,600, and $1,700 on the base for each of the three years of the contract, respectively. The first-year increase to the base would equate to a 4.67 percent base increase, a 7.3-percent average increase for the faculty as a whole, with a maximum increase of 10.2 percent.

Time for a reality check.

[justvote]

“We know how we touch our students’ lives,” O’Fallon said. “We’ll be out here as long as it takes.”

What he/she is really saying: "We know that holding the students hostage is a very effective tool to get what we want". It's outrageous that teachers are allowed to strike in a situation such as this. What is being offered is fair - I know of NOBODY who pays $0 for family coverage.