Wisconsin teachers retire in droves after union loss in bargaining fight

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Source: CSM

In the small Monona Grove School District in Wisconsin, three teachers had planned to retire this year. But then, says history teacher Thomas Howe, the "political dust-up" happened – the controversy over a law, eventually pushed through by Gov. Scott Walker (R) and supporters, that restricts public employees' collective-bargaining power.

In the midst of the battle last spring, 17 teachers, including Mr. Howe, retired from that school district. "Many of us felt very bittersweet about it," he says.

Across Wisconsin this year, teachers have opted to retire at higher rates than usual, partly in response to the new law. Under the law, teachers have to contribute a considerable chunk of their salaries to health and retirement plans, and districts can decide to lengthen the school day or year without increasing salaries.

For supporters of the legislation, it grants more flexibility to districts to prevent costs from careening out of control. Some districts have already started saving money, according to Governor Walker's office.



Read more: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2011/0916/Wisconsin-teachers-retire-in-droves-after-union-loss-in-bargaining-fight

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1. Defiant Tacoma teachers to stay on strike

Striking Tacoma teachers remain off the job despite a court order that told them to report for work, and schools are closed for a fourth straight day as the teachers union and school district prepare for a courtroom faceoff Friday.

Teachers also plan a rally Friday morning at the school district's downtown administration building.

They returned to picket lines Thursday morning, and later more than 1,500 of them gathered in the Tacoma Dome. More than 90 percent voted to continue their strike until the union and the district reach tentative agreement on a new contract.

Bargaining resumed Thursday — a condition that was also part of Wednesday's order by Pierce County Superior Court Judge Bryan Chushcoff. The union presented a proposal that touched on the three major unresolved issues: pay, class size and contract language governing teacher transfers and reassignments.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016226999_teacherstrike17m.html?prmid=head_main

[JournalistKev87]

13. They can't give up!

I'm really saddened that these teachers retired so soon. I hope they are still fighting against these union-busting rules.

Ugh, fuck you, Walker!

[elocs]

2. This was news here in La Crosse back on September 1st:

http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_9286bcda-d452-11e0-8170-001cc4c03286.html

MADISON — When students return today for the first day of school across Wisconsin, many familiar faces will be gone, as teachers chose retirement over coming back in the wake of a new law that forces them to pay more for benefits while taking away most of their collective bargaining rights.

Documents obtained by The Associated Press under the state’s open records law show that about twice as many public school teachers decided to hang it up in the first half of this year as in each of the past two full years, part of a mass exit of public employees.

Their departures came before the new law took effect, changes pushed by Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican Legislature that led to weeks of protests at the Capitol.

The ensuing exodus of teachers and other state employees has led to fears that the jobs might not be filled, and that classroom leadership by veteran teachers will be lost. Ginny Fleck, a German teacher from Green Bay with 30 years of experience, is among nearly 5,000 teachers who retired.

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3. Yes, I remember.

The race to the bottom has begun.

[jwirr]

4. I support the teachers but I cannot help but think that their retirement

is exactly the victory Walker wanted. Now they will hire lower pay teachers to replace these teachers. I have been hearing for years, including from my own sister, that teachers have been fired for any reason they can just to be able to hire lower pay teachers. My sister was fired because she corrected the spelling of a letter sent out to parents by a new teacher.

Unfortunately it is the students and the districts that are going to lose here.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Story across America in all work segments.

[jwirr]

7. Yes, I do not blame the teachers. We seem to all be in a vicious

circle.

[BeHereNow]

11. it's worse than that-

Across the country, it is an increasing practice to replace "hired" teachers
with substitute teachers who are not eligible for benefits or an other plans.
There is a revolving door of the substitutes because most districts have
an allotted time period that class may be taught by a particular sub.
BUT- rather than hiring a teacher, they simply fill the position with another substitute
to avoid paying benefits etc...
The result being, there is absolutely no continuity for the students in those
classes. Parents should be screaming with outrage, but most are just
too burned out from working to survive to get involved.
It's criminal, but is has become standard operating procedure in our public schools today.

BHN

[Igel]

16. Sort of, where I live.

A lot of older teacher retired *because* they could hire lower-paid teachers as replacements.

Look at it this way. You know that if you and Mrs. Smith across the hall both retire, you'll save the district 150k + benefits. That money will go to 3 younger teachers, allowing the district to not lay them off. The budget cuts were going to happen. It's a question of allocating resources.

You lose experience in the classroom, to be sure, but you also have 3 teachers instead of two to help keep class size down.

[Historic NY]

6. Wonder is Snotty Scotty is still talking about job creation.

[tcaudilllg]

8. I hope Scotty likes the color orange.

[midnight]

10. Time will tell..

[Plucketeer]

9. Teachers are under seige everywhere.

Amazing that alot of them - with the degrees required to teach - could've opted for better-paying occupations. But they didn't do that. They opted to imbue the coming generations with the equipment to harness the future. Now, for taking that noble and lesser rewarding path, their being slandered and scapegoated for political gain. How very, very low this nation's going. And it's not at the bottom yet. :cry:

[Zoigal]

12. Thank you, Plucketeer...I was one of those...

Was premed all through college, but as a woman it
was extremely difficult to get into med school, and
teachers were really needed. Enjoyed teaching immensely
but would never make that choice under today's conditions....z

[YvonneCa]

14. That is exactly what is happening...

...everywhere. I retired 2 years ago...and now give my energy to my grandchildren. People ask if I'd ever go back and sub...not a chance, not until the work of teachers is once again valued.

I wonder if that day will ever come... :(

[bluestateguy]

15. If retirement is not an option, then they could work to the contract

Do no more, no less than what the contract requires.

And that would mean no longer spending their own money on classroom supplies. They now need those savings to make up for the lost take home pay that resulted from this budget bill. Let the parents raise the money for that themselves.