627 replies to this topic

[39 degrees]

You are not wasting your time. I was thinking that other teachers would fill in on the boards to keep us update. But I am surprised that the interest in getting the word out about the contract negotiations has vanished now that TM70 deleted and ran. I heard there is a protest tomorrow, does anyone know about that? If so please post.

I don't know what happened with this forum before I signed up, but I have spoken to several teachers at my school and they told me that the district has not come up with any counter offer whatsoever. I find that hard to believe. I thought they were trying to negotiate, but the teachers I spoke to said the district is trying to stonewall the teachers. They want them to go to something called "impass", but the teachers won't do it. Not sure what that means. The teachers have presented several offers, all have been rejected. Maybe asking for too much, but again, I thought they were negotiating. I will keep talking to my teachers, but they didn't say anything about a protest. Anyone know anything about that? Maybe I can get a few of them to post and give us more info.

[tessieca]

I think that when people have seen that there is more than one side in the process, they back off. When impasse is declared, the parties go before a neutral arbitrator who tries to help them reach a resolution. I can't understand how that would be a bad thing under the circumstances, unless there is some sentiment that union pressure tactics will be more beneficial to the union than a factual presentation before a neutral party.

[traceyl]

I heard there is a protest tomorrow, does anyone know about that? If so please post.

I have heard there is a Parent Support Protest tomorrow from 11:30 - 1:00pm at the District Office.

[39 degrees]

Tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. I'll be interested to see how many and who else shows up to this protest. I feel like I need to support my child's teacher on this one. From what I have seen, I'm not seeing the greedy money grubber that some on this forum are assuming. Maybe it's just me, but some of the people on this forum went a little overboard. I don't know everything that TM70 wrote, but some of the other people really went after that person.

After picking up my child today at school I found out that indeed the teachers are going to "impasse", proper spelling this time. Now it sounds like a waiting game for them. At least they don't have to wear those green shirts anymore.

[SandPebble]

Thank you all for replying. I just heard that "Heads up! The district just declared an impasse and our teachers could end up striking in less that 70 days. Pass this info on please, the protest is still on for tomorrow." from a friend. So we are all hearing the same thing it seems.

On this board there are so many opinions as there are in the real world. I think that TM70 should not have run off because it hurt her credibility. It appears some know who she is and perhaps that is why she left.

No one should be harsh but at times people are. I don't think the teachers are money grubbing. People in all careers try to get the best salary and benefits they can.
Perhaps it will settle soon. A strike is not good for the kids.

SP

Tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. I'll be interested to see how many and who else shows up to this protest. I feel like I need to support my child's teacher on this one. From what I have seen, I'm not seeing the greedy money grubber that some on this forum are assuming. Maybe it's just me, but some of the people on this forum went a little overboard. I don't know everything that TM70 wrote, but some of the other people really went after that person.

After picking up my child today at school I found out that indeed the teachers are going to "impasse", proper spelling this time. Now it sounds like a waiting game for them. At least they don't have to wear those green shirts anymore.

[cw68]

Thank you all for replying. I just heard that "Heads up! The district just declared an impasse and our teachers could end up striking in less that 70 days. A strike is not good for the kids.

Crap. I'll be very ticked off should there be a strike the first year my kids are in school.

[traceyl]

Crap. I'll be very ticked off should there be a strike the first year my kids are in school.

Ya, me too

Dumb question maybe, but if the teachers walk, what does that mean? They can't possibly have enough subs to cover the whole district.

[Orangetj]

From my perspective, a strike is the worst possible outcome and one that would really call into question the motives of the teacher's union. To jeopardize the education of the students over $700 - $800 a year really seems ridiculous. Who is going to teach these kids while the teachers are on strike? Even the available sub pool would probably be taxed as most folks who either want to be or were once teachers (i.e. many subs) will not want to "cross the line".

Let's just hope it doesn't get to that point.

[tessieca]

The district just declared an impasse and our teachers could end up striking in less that 70 days.

Wow, I hope you're not getting your information from a credible source. It seems premature to be planning a strike as soon as the process begins to move toward an arbitrated resolution! If impasse means that one side or another or both will be potentially pulled off the dime to the middle, then why would anyone be planning a strike? That would certainly not be very good faith.

[DrKoz23]

It seems like there are a lot of "rumors" starting to show up here.

[TM70]

It seems like there are a lot of "rumors" starting to show up here.

Hello everyone, I'm back! Yes, it was a poor decision to delete my posts, but no bother, no one was replying to them except two of you. Most of you just sat back and giggled while the teacher got browbeaten. I read a lot of new posts this week and I have to say, I feel a lot more confident than I did a week ago. I wish more people would have come out and posted except the same two or three of you who are ALL OVER THIS WEBSITE.

Yes, we are now at impasse...less than 70 days until who knows what. I'll I can say is it's about time. The union should have done this weeks ago, but the district finally pulled it and here we are. Hopefully there will not be a strike and we can move on with life very soon. People seemed pretty tense today, and most of my parents had questions on what this all means. I reassured them, we are a LONG way from a strike. I was here the last time this happened and granted we went until the eleventh hour, but we DID NOT STRIKE. Hopefully, both sides will NEGOTIATE in good faith.

Some new facts...

FCUSD has made ONE offer to the teachers. 9/12/2006 5.25% This was there last, best and final offer...

Currently FCUSD is 12th out of 12 in the district medical cap.
Currently FCUSD is 12th out of 12 in top salary

With FCEA offer that would raise us to 9th out of 12.

"effective COLA" vs. "blended COLA" is getting tired. Why are they trying to mess with us. The past 6 years have been "effective COLA", now the superintendent is pulling this "blended" garbage.

The teachers took a pay cut of 1.52%, which has never been made up.

The school board president wants you to believe they do not have the money to make a better offer, but they are operating with a budget SURPLUS of $7-$11 MILLION dollars. This is 2-3 times MORE than they need by law. The teachers offer would increase the amount by 1.4-1.6 million overall for the 1,000 certificated employees.

More people need to chime in.

SUPPORT THE TEACHERS!

[cw68]

Sorry I offended you by responding to your post, since I post ALL OVER THIS WEBSITE. Regardless of how many times/places I post, this matter matters to me because I'm the parent of a FCUSD student as well as a taxpayer.

I stopped counting at 20 the number of different people who responded to this thread. That's pretty good. I'm not sure exactly what you're trying to get out of posting here if it's not a) getting information read (but then the info was deleted, so that can't be it) b) getting people to discuss the issues (which has happened) c) getting people to think about the issues (definitely happened because there are always many more who read than post) or d) getting stuff off of your chest (which I assume happened).

Lastly, it appeared to me as if the browbeating was going both ways.

[TM70]

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[TM70]

From my perspective, a strike is the worst possible outcome and one that would really call into question the motives of the teacher's union. To jeopardize the education of the students over $700 - $800 a year really seems ridiculous. Who is going to teach these kids while the teachers are on strike? Even the available sub pool would probably be taxed as most folks who either want to be or were once teachers (i.e. many subs) will not want to "cross the line".

Let's just hope it doesn't get to that point.

$700-$800 a year!!!! You think we would do that for less than a $100 a month!!! Try $3,500 to $5,000 depending on how long you have taught. I DO NOT WANT TO STRIKE. Please get that into your thought processes. Yes, it is bad for the children...please, why do teachers have to take it lying down and why do you question our motives. I have children too! They have to eat and go to college. Just like anyone here. Why is being a teacher a disqualification of being a regular person in this town. If you don't agree and think we are overpaid, then FINE! I'm not talking to you anyway. You are just the ones that rise up and start the bashing anyway. Doesn't anyone here get it! We are last in the area. Not 10th or 6th, but 12th out of 12. LAST! and no I'm not leaving, but I want to be competitive. If your only answer to that is leave and go private sector then fine. That's your opinion and it's all yours to have!

SUPPORT THE TEACHERS! We do not want a strike!

[sanmateo60]

$700-$800 a year!!!! You think we would do that for less than a $100 a month!!! Try $3,500 to $5,000 depending on how long you have taught. I DO NOT WANT TO STRIKE. Please get that into your thought processes. Yes, it is bad for the children...please, why do teachers have to take it lying down and why do you question our motives. I have children too! They have to eat and go to college. Just like anyone here. Why is being a teacher a disqualification of being a regular person in this town. If you don't agree and think we are overpaid, then FINE! I'm not talking to you anyway. You are just the ones that rise up and start the bashing anyway. Doesn't anyone here get it! We are last in the area. Not 10th or 6th, but 12th out of 12. LAST! and no I'm not leaving, but I want to be competitive. If your only answer to that is leave and go private sector then fine. That's your opinion and it's all yours to have!

SUPPORT THE TEACHERS! We do not want a strike!

Glad your back!