Replies

From Scott Walker vs. Public Sector Unions by Stephen F. Hayes (The Weekly Standard)

February 17, 2011 —
”Walker is unapologetic. These are difficult times. Wisconsin is facing a budget crisis. And there have to be cuts. Walker believes the changes he’s proposing are relatively modest. “I’m asking them to contribute 5.8 percent of their salary to their pension – right about the national average for contributions. And I’m asking them to pay 12 percent of their health care premiums – up from 6 percent. The national average is around 25 percent.”

“So Wisconsin’s public employees will still have benefit plans more generous than most workers across the country. And these steps are being taken with the express purpose of avoiding major layoffs and dramatic paycuts. But the unions don’t like it.

“… What’s more, Wisconsin teachers pay as much as $1100 each year in compulsory union dues. If the legislation passes, they will no longer be required to pay those dues – returning that money to their own pockets.”

Then why are they protesting, if they wouldn’t have to pay those fees anymore? Were they told by their Union to protest or else?

An Albany (NY) City teacher, Step One, who was paid a base salary of $42,132 as of September 2005 would be paid $60,708 at September 2010, a 44.09% increase. A Step Two teacher paid $43,607 at Sept 2005 would be paid $62,527 at Sept 2010 a 43.39% increase. The percent increases for Step Three through Step Twenty-five averaged 33.93%. Consumer Price Index Inflation during the same period was 9.88%. These increases do not include increases for taking on additional duties such as teacher leadership, counseling band and/or sports etc, etc. The steps represent year one in service, year two, year three, etc, etc.
Put more simply, the $100 at Step One in 9/2005 equals $144 and at 9/2010; CPI increases = $110.
The raw data is drawn and processed from the SeeThroughNY site. The increases for other school districts I have checked vary but are similar in magnitude. The teachers’ work year is 170 days less sick and personal days.
The NY State employees come nowhere near this level of percentage increases.

“… What’s more, Wisconsin teachers pay as much as $1100 each year in compulsory union dues. If the legislation passes, they will no longer be required to pay those dues – returning that money to their own pockets.”

This is why the union leaders are screamimg bloody murder!