September 28, 2005
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Today's lesson is why NY teachers (and counselors
) are talking about a strike. This may especially be helpful for those non-educators and non-NY'ers out there who have no idea what's going on.
Here are the facts:
- We have been without a contract for more than 2 years (May 2003) .
- What NY educators want: 19% raise.
- What the City offered: 4%
-
What this NY mayor said "Let the arbitrator panel decide!"
- What the arbitration panel suggested: 11.4% raise over 3 years.
All good in the hood? So why are teachers complaining?
Here's the fine print if we accept:
- 10 more minutes a day added to our 100 minutes. = 30 minutes more a day.
- 2 less days of summer vacation (Noooo!)
- 1 less holiday
- 10 more "free coverages" a year (cover a class if a teacher is "out sick")
- No right to grieve letters to the file (If a supervisor writes a "bad" letter, can't argue it)
- Luch duty, hall duty, involuntary assignment to position @ principal's discretion
- no more seniority transfers
- 1st yr salary - ZERO %, 2nd yr salary -2%, first 6 months of 3rd year-3.5% then 5.5%
With all this additional work time, it doesn't take a genius to call this additional $$ a raise.
Major players:
vs. 
CHANCELLOR JOEL KLEIN UNION REP, RANDI WEINGARTEN
*Already we're making 20% less than educators in the suburbs. Give us a break!
* We don't have swimming pools, football, soccer, and baseball fields like they do, parking lots for thier kids and faculty like they do, resources like they do.
* We work more closely with students from low-income families who struggle with whether to join gangs or not and if they should go to college. As opposed to some kids who struggle with whether they should get a Beamer or a Lexus for graduation.
Anyway, some who read this might not give a shit but everyone's been affected or taught by a teacher. They probably played a part with why YOU are the way YOU are.
And that concludes today's lesson on why we're trying to stand up for ourselves in our profession. It only took us 2 years to speak up.
Moral of the story?
ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT.
Comments (19)
dude. unfair.
teachers in NYC definitely have the short end of the stick.
ure a teacher??? im kidding... if i wasnt a student i'd try and support it but right now all im thinking of is hopefully getting A's by the end of this semester... but yeah nyc teacher's have it bad
I'm not a teacher, nor am I a New Yorker (yet...), but I'm smart enough to know that that is no deal...I say stick it to the man! My friend is teaching in the city somewhere...haha, not sure which school, but she is teaching through the New York Fellows program. Yeah, random fact for ya!
you know what you have to do.
bust some ass.
They always get you with the fine print !!!
zpulahc << IM me let me know wasup
You seem like a positive happy person. Why did u choose to be in the education field? O kids...pain in the ass...but i like to counsel them....they are our future...hehehehe...so thanx to the teachers!
Unfortunately one of the best ways to pay for our teachers is to raise taxes in NYC, and give the teachers a tax break. Somethings got to give, and in this post 9-11 economy, most of the money spent on civil service is used for security. Hang in there boss.
it's great that ur standing up for NYC teachers, i'm sure it'll pay off in the end...cant believe our govt is so cheap to one of the most important professions...Good luck!
that is so unfair! how do they expect to educate the kids of today if they're not taking care of the ppl they're trusting to teach these kids? i have a lot of teacher friends, so i've heard bits & pieces of what's going on w/the horrible treatment. and i heard that if teachers strike, they lose 2+ days pay for every 1 day of the strike. having to work under such horrible conditions, ur almost forced to strike + then get penalized for it. really, really stupid ... *shaking my head*
sup? I hope to see you around Thanksgiving.
whooooooooooooo i made it to the finals! im awesome!
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just move to virginia. problem solved!
lol all done my hw lol... XD
so bored lately!
Fcuk... to get a little, you teachers have to give alot!
move out here to ohio..we'll pay u lots
WERD!!! I feel you on that... Take care.
i work at a hospital and the support services people are on strike, i think if teachers are going to be striking all hell is going to break loose! NY better get their act together!
yea, i remember when the teachers at my school use to complain about this. I hope you guys finally get a break. things are so unfair right now. hope everything gets better.
i'm feeling better now. thanks. lol yea the rsp does suck, i ended up switching from the walk unit to desk unit, i defitiely don't want to walk in the cold.
laterz.
~Karen