Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino fired a broadside at the city’s teachers’ union in a speech delivered this afternoon, saying that the union’s refusal to reach a contract deal with the city was keeping it from putting the right teachers in the right classrooms. “Unfortunately, we must start planning for next year with the old process in place. A process that puts teachers with mis-matched skills in mis-matched classrooms. That’s wrong,” Menino said in remarks prepared for delivery at the Boston Municipal Research Bureau’s 80th annual meeting. Menino said a new teacher contract “must provide more flexibility so that all Boston kids have access to an outstanding education in all of our schools,” saying a signature issue in education reform was “the ability for principals to place talented teachers where they are needed most.”
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Boston teachers make $81,000. and don't want to accept a $32,000 raise? Am I reading this right?
darling 2 No, Darling, you're not reading it correctly. The mayor and administration is offering $32 million to cover the cost of a new contract that includes a small raise which will not cover the voluntary additional time they want teachers to cover in order to extend the length of the school day. As for "keeping it from putting the right teachers in the right classrooms" that's a hoot. There are teachers still on waivers teaching because of a need to "balance" the make up of a school. There are teachers who are teaching outside their certification for a multitude of reasons. This is not to say that they are competent teachers but it is very hypocritical of the administration to accuse the Union of causing mis-matching of teachers' skills with particular classrooms. Mayor Menino has found an easy phrase to articulate.
My comment should read: This is not to say that they are incompetent teachers . .
The 1% raise would be about $800 per year. However, that would include working an extra 90 hours. That doesn't really seem like a raise...
We need a contract that is FAIR to teachers and good for students.
The failure of the Superintendent to attend any of the bargaining sessions is indicative of her top down management style. She apparently has decided that she does not need any more information about any of the issues that are on the table so there is no need to listen to the union's perspective. For her to state that her subordinates have have full authority to make a deal is unbelievable: if they do then why do we pay her in excess of $300,000/year? Any negotiation takes time, but 21 months is absurd. The union president is attending the sessions it is time for the superintendent to do the same.
Another example of how bad unions are.
Let's give the teachers their raise. And while were at it, how about another raise for the firemen and police? In fact, let's give all public sector employees a 10% raise and then we won't have to hassle with them for a year or two. These raises can be easily funded because the source of the funding is inexhaustible - the taxpayers.
Incredible---your right, its almost as if unions have no concept of where the money comes from or that basically the entire country is writing IOU's to pay their more than generous salaries especially when you consider the time off and pension. Most people dont make anywhere near what teachers make and have 3 weeks vacation. They need to wake up. I dont believe pols can negotiate with teachers anymore.
"We need a contract that is FAIR to teachers and good for students" columwhyte said it best!