(no subject)
First of all, it should be said that, in spite of the fact that I am a Mahomet-Seymour teacher and our teachers and support staff are currently on strike, there seems to be little of our contract historically (from sick leave to health insurance) that applies to me. As a part time employee, I fall into a grey area that no one seems to know how to handle. I don’t say this to complain about my lot, but rather, to illustrate that my intent in sharing the following information is not, at its core, self-serving. No matter what happens, it will have little direct effect on me.
However, I am troubled by comments made in the public, some by strangers, and some by people whose opinions I truly value, regarding the motives of my fellow workers. I am also seriously troubled by the means that our board has used to spread misleading information regarding this matter. Sometime earlier this week, our board insisted that all of the building principals use their parent listserves to send out a one-sided account of the negotiation proceedings. This is a listserve that the union does not have access to, and therefore, they could not share their side of the story in the same manner. Their only venue is the local media, where their words can be shared in a limited format and spun in whatever way makes the best story. I don’t appreciate this one-sided telling of the tale.
The individuals who I work with are hard working people who care very deeply for the success of the students in the district. They are the reason that people continually list the school system as their primary reason for moving to Mahomet. They are the reason that so many successful students come out of this district. All they ask is that they receive a fair and equitable salary and insurance coverage that allows them to continue to meet the needs of their families. This contract is not an opportunity to drain the district’s resources in difficult economic times. It is simply a time to assure continued security for hard working staff members.
That said, I would like to share the following information from the M-S union representatives. After reading, feel free to come up with your own opinions. However, I feel that it is important and valuable to know both sides of the story before jumping to conclusions:
From the union:
The Mahomet-Seymour Board of Education has offered a “step-only” increase (with a minimal increase on insurance) for the upcoming school year. Here are a few facts about what this kind of raise means:
** Some of our most overworked and underpaid employees making less than $25,000 a year will receive literally no increase or close to no increase in salary - therefore when combined with sky rocketing insurance costs it means a net loss of money next year.
** By giving virtually no increase to help cover insurance plans, employees are left either with having to pay large increases in premiums or move to a plan with tremendous potential out-of-pocket costs. Either way, the economic result is a loss in net dollars.
** A “step-only” increase means a salary schedule freeze. It means no cost of living adjustment is given. It means we lose ground in terms of real (net of inflation) dollars.
** This district has never seen the kind of raise that would be needed to make up for the loss a “step-only” raise would burden its employees with. (The recent average raise in the district has been 6%...to makeup for a “step only” raise in future years would be virtually impossible.) This loss will then compound for the remainder of employees’ careers.
Furthermore, the Mahomet-Seymour school district does not have any “economic difficulties” as published. Here are a few facts about the economic situation in Mahomet-Seymour:
** The operating funds in this district have gone up substantially over the past half-decade. Over a 4-year period from 2005-2009 these fund balances have grown by over $4 million.
** It should also be remembered that “step-increases” do not cost the district any money. Due to retirement and other turnover in the district, a “step-increase” raise is literally no net increase in cost for the district.
** Any published raise for the employees is not the same as the actual cost to the district. For example from 2005-2009, the reported raise in employee salary was a cumulative 22.5%, yet the actual salary increase in the district (true cost to the district) during that same time was only 17%.
** Although the board of education traveled far and wide to find contract settlements near the same low level as they are offering, the did not mention the numerous districts within Champaign county getting 3%, 4%, or 5% raises (including 3-year settlements!).
** Although the board claims uncertainty in the future, they have continually offered multi-year deals. The MSEA is very willing to consider a 1-year contract and reevaluate the situation in a year.