Word on the street in Massena is that the Massena Federated Teachers union organized a block of votes against the local school budget.
The budget was defeated by just over 140 votes. In past votes and school board elections, the teachers have been able to mobilize about 500 votes one way or another. If that happened this year, then the budget would have easily passed if the teachers union had stayed on the side lines.
Looks like the voting block backfired this time, though.
You see, the teachers opposed the budget because they lost jobs and the proposed 1.8% tax increase "was too small."
Go figure.
The truth is the 30-plus jobs were lost because the union bosses refused to even consider a wage freeze to save some of them.
As usual with union politics, the members were not allowed to vote on the proposed wage freeze. Instead, the officers and the executive board decided what was best for the members without actually asking for their opinions.
No freeze, no way, the bosses said, although many members felt the freeze was an acceptable way to save the jobs.
To their credit, the school's administration and board of education stuck to their guns, ignored union pressure, stood up for the taxpayers and called the union's bluff.
The teachers then went to work to defeat the budget.
It looks like that tactic backfired this time, though, because the board's president now says there will not be a second budget vote because the district will simply adopt an austerity budget. That means the job cuts will stand and the "too small" tax increase will be put into place for the coming 12 months.
So, here's the question of the day: what did the unlucky, soon-to-be-laid-off union teachers get in exchange for their years of paying union dues?
A pink slip, that's what.
Guess solidarity isn't a two-way street in the eyes of the Massena Federated Teachers. Perhaps MFT President Chad Simpson and the rest of the union leadership will be the next crew looking for new jobs.
Well said! You should forward this to all the teachers. It would be good for them to take a look outside of their school walls and see how the rest of the world views the happenings at MCS!
ReplyDeleteMaybe this should be in the newspaper so all the community can read this and the teachers who are being led in the wrong direction. Very well put Mr. Gray, thanks so much for your words of wisdom.
ReplyDeleteMr. Gray you couldn't be more right. There are plenty of teachers that would have considered a pay freeze to save fellow colleagues but like you said we were never allowed to have a vote. Chad Simpson preaches "solidarity and brothers and sisters" but we did nothing to try to save our "brothers and sisters" jobs. We know nothing more than the public does because we are told by the union only to "trust them". It is very hard to trust people who are representing you when you have no idea what their agenda is. This would be a great newspaper article.
ReplyDeleteI agree as well. Mr. Simpson should be one of the ones getting the pick slip as well as any others who didn't inform the teachers. The public was grossly misled and who really suffer are our kids!
ReplyDeleteAlthough this article is about the teachers and the union, the concern should be the students who are affected by the cuts. What about the programs that were cut. Bragging about "putting the screws" to the teachers and the union does not help the students at MCHS. I think you need to look at trying to help provide the best education for the students and not what you did to the union and the teachers.
ReplyDeleteAs another member of a school board I can say, "Your distict is in big trouble!" The administration has no business leaking information to the public (your town supervisor). Negotiations are a lenghtly process, involving "good faith" bargaining and are kept private until some agreements are possible. Then all teachers are given the opportunity to comment and to vote on any changes. Your adminstation should be ashamed of themselves for causing this chaos rather than looking out for the good of your staff and students.
ReplyDeleteWho leaked any info?? Just talk to the younger teachers, for Pete's sake!! They are ticked off because they know they are first out the door when the older teachers refuse to even consider concessions. I had the same conversation with a 29-year-old teacher in Central New York where her union refused to allow a vote on a wage freeze.
ReplyDeleteSo, it's obviously not a situation that is unique to Massena and it also obvious that local NYSUT chapters aren't calling the shots in their districts.
The NYSUT bosses in Albany are refusing to let local unions make their own decisions. Just like the fat-cats in CSEA who refuse to allow Locals to settle contracts with wage freezes in them.
Democracy appears to be dead in big labor unions.
Wouldn't Comrade Stalin be proud? Or is that Brother?
Dear Anon. 1:08, are the Massena Federated Teachers bosses really looking out for the students? If they were, they would have taken the wage freeze to save jobs and programs. Instead, they refused. Now everyone will suffer for their selfish attitudes. After all, "last in, first out" is NYSUT's creation and the cowards in the New York State Legislature refuse to stand up against them. Shameful all around!
ReplyDeleteLet me get this straight? Albany cuts our education system to the point that local school administrations have no choice but to lay off teachers at record rates and eliminate entire programs, and you are blaming the teachers unions and the teachers themselves?
ReplyDeleteThat is fantastic logic.
Not only are you speculating regarding who voted down the budget, but you are presuming to know why they voted it down, if they did.
Perhaps instead of talking sides against those in our community, you (and everyone else) should be taking sides against the Governor and the extent of the cuts that were made. I understand fiscal responsibility, but I also understand making cuts where they are due, and to the extent that it does not have an immediate and monumental negative affect on the residents of the state.
Speaking of students. This blog is written as if by a high school student. Your gossiping, name calling, and arguing with those that respond to your “rants” for lack of a better term, are not qualities that are indicative of the type of professional that those in your village can be proud of.
I’m surprised that your verbal conduct on here is not used against you.
I can't force anyone to read my "rants." If anyone doesn't like what I've written, all anyone has to do move their browser to a different page.
ReplyDeleteIsn't America a great country?
It is very unfortunate that our students are going to suffer due to the decisions made by the union. Some of these program and teacher cuts could have been avoided if the union would have come to the teachers and asked for a vote.
ReplyDeleteI fail to see where a town supervisor needs or should get into school business. I believe it is your job to promote Massena, not tear it apart. Why don't you stick to what you were elected to do and stay out of school issues. We all know you are a union hater and will do anything you can to try to hurt the reputation of any union. I think you need to stop the negative and try to emphasize the positive.
ReplyDeleteBut School business is community business. The school system is one of the largest employers in town. When jobs are lost it has a negative impact on our community.
ReplyDeleteI don't hate unions.
I dislike stupidity. And acting against the best interests of fellow workers and our community in the guise of union solidarity is not smart, in my opinion.
Joe, at the least you have not been friendly towards unions. Except for the IBEW when Roger Clough I was the union boss. And your support for Gov. Walker's union busting in Wisconsin would be seen as union-hating by many observers. I won't go that far. And I also know that the right wing of the GOP, and the RGA, seek to destroy public sector unions in a coordinated manner. Anti-union buffoons like Scott Walker, Chris Christie, Mitch Daniels, and Rick Snyder used their new majorities to punish public employees. I have been reassured by Sen. Griffo and Assemblywoman Russell that they would not be supportive of union busting in our district. Sen. Patsy Ritchie has not answered my question, but she had a good relationship with the CSEA local when she was county clerk.
ReplyDeleteI voted against the budget because I don't believe that Roger II and Fauch seemed to care what the public felt about the budget proposal. I like Roger personally but I don't feel that he handled this budget presentation very well. I do not believe that Tech Prep should have been eliminated. That program gave kids the tools they needed to qualify for good union jobs. Fauch spent a large share of the time whispering in someone else's ear. I respect Fauch's record of public service, but the public expected better. I don't believe the Teachers Union swayed many votes. If they had remained totally neutral, I don't believe the vote would have been much different. The "NO" voters made a better presentation against the budget. The "YES" crowd seemed to assume they would win and failed to persuade many voters. Some of the NO voters were friends of the teachers, but others were not. Although I struggle to pay my taxes now, I don't want to sell these kids out in order to save a few bucks.
I should note that I am the son of a retired teacher, and the brother-in-law of a current teacher. They did not discuss the school budget with me, and I didn't ask them to. I do know that it is a very stressful job. I know that teaching is one of the most critical jobs in a odern economy, and we should support them more than we do. And I think that the public airing of negotiations was disrespectful.
ReplyDeleteThose of you who are saying some teachers had little to no part in encouraging the "NO" vote, think again! Rumors around town are that an insider of the union was asked to step down from their position because they had contacted retirees prior to the vote encouraging the retirees to vote "NO" and soliciting votes for certain board candidates...how is that for ethics and doing the right thing for students???
ReplyDeleteAnonymous (real brave of you to omit your name), I don't believe you know what you're talking about. And I never said that the teachers did not encourage a "NO" vote. I'm sure some did. Why would they support this budget, which cut a bunch of jobs and several programs? This sounds like sour grapes on your part. Retirees can make their own choices and no one is going to tell them what to do or who to vote for. I also expect the teachers will be looking to vote some board members out. In many cases, I would support them.
ReplyDeleteJoe, your blog has made the newspapers. Congratulations. I wish it was because of some other thread: I still don't believe the budget was going to pass regardless of the teachers' positions. I'd rather talk about jobs for those who don't currently have one. But the publicity can't hurt.
ReplyDeleteUnfortuantely, until you walk in the footsteps of a teacher (especially an elementary teacher)you will never have a clue to how much money we put into our classroom out of pocket and to the countless number of hours we put in above and beyond the call of duty!!!! I don't know ANYONE who works at NYPA that will stay extra hours WITHOUT pay or overtime!! I don't know any other occupation that goes to college for five plus years that makes a mere thirty thousand dollars in their first year. Yes I did not go into the profession to make a million, rather for the impact I will make on little childrens lives. Think again Mr. Gray before posting on a topic that you know little about!!!! The Massena union did nothing wrong according to union bylaws!!! SLC teachers did give graciously back but in turn they found out that no other bargaining units were going to give anything back!!!! It saddens me that many of their teachers will take a pay cut next year because of the outward generosity!!! Massena Federation of Teachers stand strong!!!!
ReplyDelete