Janesville teachers union requests contract talks
JANESVILLE--Janesville public school teachers voted Monday night to seek contract negotiations with the school board.
This board rejected a similar request Oct. 9, but union President Dave Parr said he has received encouragement from some board members to give it another try.
A letter from the union was to be delivered to board members this morning.
Parr said the union is willing to help the district achieve savings he believes will be at least $10 million.
The annual savings would come in employee contributions to their pension payments, health insurance and a change in the early-retirement plan.
The board could impose those same savings after the current contract runs out June 30, 2013, Parr acknowledged.
The state law known as Act 10, if it is upheld in the courts, would kick in next summer, taking away the union’s ability to negotiate for anything except wages. The board would be free to impose all manner of changes in benefits and work rules.
But negotiating those items in a contract would help the district attract and retain good teachers, Parr said.
For a full story, read Tuesday’s Gazette, read online in the Gazette’s E-Edition or check back at GazetteXtra.com.
Dec 11, 2012 at 12:45 p.m.
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Just a year ago, when the union had 2 years left on their contract, Mr. Parr and his fellow union directors couldn't be bothered to try to help the school system with last year's budget problems. But now, with Act 10 and the end of their contract breathing down their necks, and a small window of opportunity provided by a Dane County court order that the union obviously thinks is destined to be thrown out on appeal, they suddenly have some motivation to help the district save $10 million. They must think that Act 10 could save the district much more than that since the union's altruism for the people of Janesville on the subject of the budget has been noticeably lacking of late.
Dec 11, 2012 at 12:39 p.m.
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wislady is from evansville and is just a angry , bitter person. Not so much a lady either.
Dec 11, 2012 at 11:56 a.m.
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"perhaps I do. And don't buy into the woe is me mentality"
Saxcat, I couldn't agree more which is why I thought the sib stories at the capital in 2011 was just as pathetic aas the excuses for bad parenting.
Dec 11, 2012 at 11:56 a.m.
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thekai
So quick to assume and blame...I didn't wish anyone a "bad" Christmas.
Quit over analyzing every word.
Dec 11, 2012 at 11:37 a.m.
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lovemycountry - I think they said that because it doesn't affect current contracts, so that is maybe when the current contract runs out in Janesville? I'm 100% sure though. Maybe there will be more info in the full story (but it is the gazette, so maybe not).
Dec 11, 2012 at 11:07 a.m.
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Not woe is you, woe is them.
Dec 11, 2012 at 10:46 a.m.
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perhaps I do. And don't buy into the woe is me mentality.
Dec 11, 2012 at 10:31 a.m.
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If you only knew of the lives some of these kids have to live... I t's not easy trying to get them to learn.
Dec 11, 2012 at 10:01 a.m.
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On an educational sidebar.... the thought occurred to me lately that we put way to much emphasis on demanding that our educators are successfully educating, and not enough emphasis on demanding that our students are learning for themselves. I feel the teachers are being more than responsible. It's the poor parents and students that are dragging down the system.
Dec 11, 2012 at 9:56 a.m.
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tbuck, you are right, and maybe for us opening the talks will be a step in a right direction. We as taxpayers must also take a somewhat neutral position and let these folks talk. Doesn't mean one side or the other is demanding anything. But lets keep talking and see where we're at. I personally think that nothing should change until the contracts are up. That doesn't mean they can't agree early on what changes will take place.
Dec 11, 2012 at 9:52 a.m.
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I hardly see how wishing someone a bad Christmas is very mature at all. wislady, I hope that is sarcasm, because if it isn't, you are only supporting Badgerlvr's premise.
tbuck,
I agree with you. I'm not sure what the teacher's union has in mind, but it seems as if they want to save the district money. I don't see any reason for the school board not to agree to talks.
Dec 11, 2012 at 9:28 a.m.
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badgerlvr
Have a wonderful Holiday Season, and Merry Christmas (or not)!
Dec 11, 2012 at 9:17 a.m.
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When is the education profession, both school boards and teachers, going to get rid of this us vs them mentality and learn to work together? In a lot of the better districts, the school boards are still seeking and listening to input from the teachers that are on the front line working with students on a daily basis. These districts seem to be ahead of the curve when it comes to education our young people. The Janesville school district leadership is a mess.
Dec 11, 2012 at 8:23 a.m.
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It certainly is good to see that wislady is still full of negativity. Do you EVER have anything nice to say?
Dec 11, 2012 at 8:21 a.m.
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"The state law known as Act 10, if it is upheld in the courts, would kick in next summer.." The law was already upheld by the WI Supreme Court. Remember the Prosser reelection ? And the law has already kicked in for hundreds of districts across the state. It is saving millions for taxpayers. Mr. Schultz should have added "for Janesville" to be accurate.
Dec 11, 2012 at 7:59 a.m.
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Oh, oh.....someone missed the bus for the big protest in Michigan today.
Dec 11, 2012 at 7:43 a.m.
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why bother?
Dec 11, 2012 at 5:56 a.m.
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The time is right to begin contract discussions - it always helps to keep the lines of communication open on both side. We are not a Walker Red state yet and Act 10 is "Null and Void" at this time.
"In Film, Walker Talks of DIVIDE AND CONQUER"
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepoliti...
"Scott Walker's Anti-Union Kaw Struck Down"
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/091...
"Judge Tosses Much of WI Collective Bargaining Law"
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/201...
"WI Judge Rules Walker's Anti-labor Law NULL AND VOID"
http://www.thenation.com/blog/169968/wis...
A n d -- The John Doe Investigation continues.
"INVESTIGATION INVOLVING SCOTT WALKER IS STILL OPEN, JUDGE SAYS"
http://host.madison.com/news/local/crime...
"Again: Scott Walker Meet RICHARD NIXON"
http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot....
"John Dean Says Walker MORE Nixionian Than Nixon"
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/16...
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