Just heard a blurb that the average Milwaukee public teacher is over $100,000. Salary makes up around $57,000 of it. That's some sweet benefits. They're the ones last year fighting to put viagra back into their prescription plan while the schools were financially strapped.

 

Also reporting that the DNC is very heavily involved in organizing and populating the protests.

 

So $43k of the average $100k package is benefits? Seems awfully high from a % standpoint.

I’m a bit torn on the situation, but I haven’t been paying terribly much attention to it, frankly because I don’t care about Wisconsin politics. On one hand, I’ve never been much of a union supporter, especially the teachers’ unions. I think they’re often a hindrance to needed change in education. I’m also not opposed to trimming the fat in state budgets. So, I don’t have any problem with a politician butting heads with them to get needed concessions. On the other hand, it appears this particular bill is more about destroying the unions than extracting certain demands - it removes the ability to collectively bargain and collect dues, except in extremely narrow circumstances. So, I’m not sure what the bill’s supporters were expecting from union members when they attempted to pull the rug out from under them. I’m also not aware of similar legislation commensurately trimming the state’s fat in other areas (though more careful followers of Wisconsin politics should correct me if I’m mistaken), which adds to the bitterness of the public employees. I also don’t have an inherent problem with civil disobedience, so I don’t have much of a problem with the public sector employees going that direction. I’ve been most off-put by the rhetoric surrounding the situation. Both sides have demonized the other with some extreme caricatures. I just don’t understand the importance of that and it’s not going to do much to resolve the situation.

So $43k of the average $100k package is benefits? Seems awfully high from a % standpoint.

 

That's what I thought but those were the numbers given.

Why can't people understand the word BROKE??? If the teachers get their way the governor will have to fire up to 6,000 teachers and public workers this year alone.. Even more the next year.. If they take the deal the governor has offered there will be no furloughs or firings.. Reminds me of the folks who don't understand the word ILLEGAL when dealing with the immigration problem... Obama has made it perfectly clear of his love for unions.. Instead of working on the major problems we have he is busily working to unionize the TSA.. That will mean 45,000 more employees to bleed us dry....

Me too, I am not too familar with it, yet, but you cannot just remove the right to negotiate!

 

If you are expecting a certain about of money and benefits, it's very hard to just sit there an do nothing, it's not your fault the state is broke!

 

How would this play out in KY?

 

I know KY is talking about changing their state pension plan, BUT everyone who is either an employee now or already receiving benefits will not be effected, it will be new hires after mid 2012, the last I heard. But take benefits away from the people already in the system is wrong!

 

Bolded part happens in the private sector all the time.

Bolded part happens in the private sector all the time.

 

I am actually talking about two different things. In the bold I am talking about retirement benefits! I think the Gov should find other ways to ensure the retirement is not touched! Kentucky's plan is MUCH better than other states such as New Jersey on this issue.

I am actually talking about two different things. In the bold I am talking about retirement benefits! I think the Gov should find other ways to ensure the retirement is not touched! Kentucky's plan is MUCH better than other states such as New Jersey on this issue.

 

You mean like those GM retirees that have had their retirement benefits cut back?

 

Never mind, I forgot, GM is a government owned entity now.

One of the reasons the teachers union is desperate on this issue is the proposed elimination of automatic deductions of union dues. This was done in New York for eighteen months and collections dropped by 35%. Also to those who think the total compensation package of 89,000 is not a big deal since only 59,000 to 61,000 is salary on average; would you agree to a 10,000 dollar salary increase and elimination of the benefit package.

One of the reasons the teachers union is desperate on this issue is the proposed elimination of automatic deductions of union dues. This was done in New York for eighteen months and collections dropped by 35%. Also to those who think the total compensation package of 89,000 is not a big deal since only 59,000 to 61,000 is salary on average; would you agree to a 10,000 dollar salary increase and elimination of the benefit package.

 

Noone up there has suggested elimination of the benefit package. What has been proposed is a 12% contribution by the teachers to their health insurance and some small contribution to their pension. And as to the elimination of mandatory dues, the statistics you quote in New York tell me that many teachers don't WANT to have to belong to their union. Why should teachers be forced to pay dues?

The government of Wisconsin is broke, and has to pare down it's spending. What part of "BROKE" doesn't the left understand?

 

The majority of Americans have had significant cutbacks, including contributions to our retirement and our medical p...lans. And you don't see us demanding that others prop up our shortfalls.

 

Now we taxpayers, who have had to sacrifice income, retirement and medical costs ourselves, are expected to pay for the ENTIRE benefits of those who think they're entitled?

 

Not just no, HELL no.

Perhaps if the unions had not supported such profligate spenders, we wouldn't be in this situation.

 

BTW, the unions may be loud & noisy (and intimidating at times). But they have lost the support of the majority of Americans.

The average salary of a Wisconsin teacher is in the $48-49K neighborhood, which isn't an extraordinarily high figure, in my opinion.

The average salary of a Wisconsin teacher is in the $48-49K neighborhood, which isn't an extraordinarily high figure, in my opinion.

Actually it's $52,644 for 2009-2010. Doesn't the average teacher in Wisconsin make something like 134% of the salary of the average worker in Wisconsin?

Are we forgetting about fringe benefits? Take Milwaukee for example, when fringe benefits are factored in the annual compensation will be $100,005 in 2011.

 

 

Edited February 19, 201115 yr by Run To State

Oh, I forgot, they also get 15 weeks vacation a year...

In this economy the goodwill that Americans have toward public/union employees is evaporating quickly, if it isn't already gone.