I agree, worth the read
I'll second the comment. The initial take is don't let the PEA pull the wool over our eyes that the past contracts have been sacrifices. They've received above inflation net increases to their paychecks consistently by just keeping their job.
The second item is to recognize how well the PEAs of the state have brought ''we can't do it any differently than XYZ school district'' to the contracts. It's time the PLSD Board says ''we have are in tough financial times (and they're not going away, even if we control growth), labor represents 80% of our costs, and you WILL absorb higher insurance premiums and accept that your step increases are by themselves above inflation, therefore no base rate increase.
Sure the PEA will cry and whine that we'll lose all the best teachers to other districts, why should't they get a raise (they keeping forgetting about those step increases)and the health insurance rates aren't their fault.
The past three years have seen large numbers of private firms freezing salaries and passing on significant increases in health care costs. My health insurance cost has increased 71% since 1999 and the co-pay and deductibles have doubled. If the PLSD Board isn't willing to pass on these increases to the employees as the private employers are doing then they've can not represent to the taxpayers they are doing all they can to control costs and expect us to vote for the next levy.
Unfortunately the contract negotiations always take place behind closed doors and the Board likes us to believe we have input. We need to let them know now to take a tough stance with the PEA. Two weeks from now it will probably be too late. So let your voices be heard.
By Pay a fair share
