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But It’s For The Chiiiilllldrreeeennns
Chicago Teachers May Strike on Monday; News Coverage Doesn’t Disclose Their Current Pay, Initial Demands
By Tom Blumer, NewsBusters
Less than 48 hours from now, Chicago’s teachers, whose union head insists, as quoted by the Associated Press, that “we are here to negotiate for better schools in Chicago,” may walk off the job, leaving the children entrusted to them to languish in half-days of activities unrelated to learning “staffed by non-union and central office workers.”
There seems to be an unwritten rule that news coverage of these matters not discuss the current earnings of those who are threatening to strike. In a writeup of over 900 words, AP writers Tammy Webber and Don Babwin stuck to that script, and also failed to tell their readers the size of the raise union negotiators initially requested.
[snip]
Chicago Teachers Union Demands 30 Percent Pay Raise
It takes a lot of nerve to ask for a 30 percent pay raise. You’d better be sure you had a banner year. Yet in Chicago, where just 15 percent of fourth graders are proficient in reading (and just 56 percent of students graduate), the teachers union is set to strike if the district does not agree to a 30 percent increase in teachers’ salaries.
The average teacher in Chicago Public Schools—a district facing a $700 million deficit—makes $71,000 per year before benefits are included. If the district meets union demands and rewards teachers with the requested salary increase, education employees will receive compensation north of $92,000 per year.
According to the Illinois Policy Institute, the average annual income of a family in Chicago is $47,000 per year. If implemented, the 30 percent raise will mean that in nine months, a single teacher in the Chicago Public School system will take home nearly double what the average family in the city earns in a year.
While the union bemoans the longer school day and is demanding a hefty pay raise as a result, taxpayers will be left holding the bill for a 30 percent salary increase and wondering whether $92,000 is appropriate compensation for public school employees.
I don’t have to wonder. It’s not.
[snip]
bitterclinger
September 8th, 2012
*rubs hands*
Ooooh, this oughta be good.
Rahmbo Dead Fish will have to decide whether he’s going to live up to his thug, tough-guy image and say “no,” thus FURTHER alienating the dem base with elections coming up shortly or whether to sink his town deeper into debt (hardly a moral quandry for the likes of him) while looking like a pansy by caving.
dba_vagabond_trader
September 8th, 2012
30% pay raise for a 40% student dropout rate. Sounds about right.
Dr. Tar
September 8th, 2012
Dear Rahm,
The solution to your problems is just next door to your North. Give Scott Walker a call, he’ll fill you in on how to turn things around.
cfm990
September 8th, 2012
Now,if they were striking for hazardous duty or combat pay?
FreeMan & Sarah on Vacation
September 8th, 2012
Close them out. End the hjacking of our kids.
Xavier
September 8th, 2012
Very simple to fix. When teachers strike, 1] jail them, 2] fine them, 3] strip them of their teaching credentials.
They’ll get the message, and if they don’t, who cares? Go teach in Mexico, assholes.
Unneutral
September 8th, 2012
Sounds like the real teaching going on is showing the kids how to control the system.
JLLJ
September 8th, 2012
One word for you, Rahm….PATCO. Fire all of them. Their positions would be filled in a day by all the unemployed teachers across the country.
Major Mal function
September 8th, 2012
In the teachers’ union defense, they did promise a 30% higher illiteracy rate.
Xavier
September 8th, 2012
I have psycho-lib family members who make >100K as teachers – and they whine non-stop about too much work and too little money. The subject of teacher strikes came up once, and only once. They won’t do that again in this house.
norman einstein
September 8th, 2012
Too bad there wasn’t somebody like Ronaldus Magnus involved.
In 1981, he fired 11,345 striking air traffic controllers after they ignored orders to return to work.
Not only were they fired…they were banned from federal service for life.
cakes
September 8th, 2012
Is Chicago on all year schedule, or are we forgetting all the vacation days?
Rahm will never have the balls to pull a Scott Walker- never! He’ll take the California route of bankruptcy / federal bailout instead.
exceller
September 8th, 2012
Come on Rahm, Scott Walker had the balls to stand up to the union, let’s see you do the same.
Wyatt, Insensitive Progressive Jerk
September 8th, 2012
Don’t forget that Illinois is broke. “Broke” as in no money, a lot of debt, businesses leaving the state, insufficient revenue streams and typical idiot Illinois politicians charged with fixing the problem. (Hint to said politicians: pouring gasoline on a greasefire is normally not a good thing).
These teachers aren’t starving, and in fact compared to many people are doing pretty well. There is no money – go back to work.
Zonga
September 8th, 2012
The Nomenklatura, nothing is too good for them.
Jerry Manderin
September 8th, 2012
R.E.F.O.R.M.
dba_vagabond_trader
September 8th, 2012
Wonder how much of the pay increases gets kicked back to union bosses and pols.
judgeroybean
September 8th, 2012
Worthless, clueless, greedy bums want a 30% pay raise? How bout dropping the union and saving your dues? How bout some concessions like all other union members have had to give? Just how self centered are they? How many of the folks who would be forced to pay for the raises do not have jobs themselves? How many taxpayers cannot afford to pay one more dime? Bums otta be grateful they even have jobs. Throw em out.
Xavier
September 8th, 2012
This is actually good news. Why? If they thought Berry & cohorts were going to win, they’d simply wait until after the election to demand more money – knowing they’d get it. The unions realize a wave of austerity is about to sweep across the nation and are trying to bulk up the coffers for the long dry spell coming.
Expect to see more union strike threats and government agencies quietly giving themselves raises as we get closer to 11/6 – they are going to be a bellwether for this election.
Chuck O
September 8th, 2012
“…may walk off the job, leaving the children entrusted to them to languish in half-days of activities unrelated to learning…”
Hell, they weren’t teaching the kids before the strike.
Tim
September 8th, 2012
Rahm will deliver everything the Union wants.
With a blowjob and a ribbon around his neck.
The PeePull of Chicago will exclaim with joy “Naw the l’il chillens gon be good ejakated!”
“Every people have the government they deserve.”
Buffalobob
September 8th, 2012
It’s for the childrens. As a now union member of the teachers union I am just unable to appreciate the hard work and dedication the union bosses and organizers do each and every day. They have to struggle with collecting the dues of the teachers and somehow live within their $400,00 + salaries.
Bob M.
September 8th, 2012
I’m in the wrong profession.
Stranded in Sonoma
September 8th, 2012
Hey at least they understand the schools will get better when they walk off the job.
Corona
September 8th, 2012
Drop them like the retards they are. And I do mean drop them.
ghastly
September 9th, 2012
When will the black community stop pulling the lever of the Perpetual Poverty Machine?? Think it should begin in Chicago. Black community of Chicago, Democrat thugs need to keep you poorly educated, centrally housed, food stamp using, aborting, unemployed, and self-hating in order to get your vote. Think about it and wake up to the truth. Stop believing the lies.