For $180 a month, it looks like the Rockford Education Association and the Rockford School District could take its teachers out on a Spring vacation, leaving thousands of students and parents stranded.
Though teachers could walk today, there’s no indication — yet — that they will. But, after a 12-hour, non-productive talking marathon on Wednesday and with a union confab slated for Monday, the “strike, strike, strike” drum beat’s getting louder.
And, for what? Well, for $180 a month. The sticking point appears to be how much each teacher will pay for health insurance. The difference between what the union says it’s willing to pay and the amount the district wants the union to pay is less than $200.
The Rockford Register Star’s education writer Cathy Bayer coupled some excellent charts with her March 7 story about the insurance deadlock. The most telling shows the current rates, the union’s proposed monthly rates and the district’s proposed rates. To keep it simple, I’ll just deal with the most expensive “teacher-plus-family” rates, the PPO1. The chart includes other kinds, and they’re all cheaper.
Currently, a teacher pays $89 a month. The union says no increase for year one of the contract and is willing to go up to $111 a month in year two. The union doesn’t offer a number for year three. The district says no increase in year one, go to $178 in year two, and go to $269 in year three.
So from the current $89 a month to the highest rate in year three, a teacher would see health insurance costs increase by $180 a month.
Any increase means less cash in one’s pocket. Every working man and woman knows that these days. Escalating insurance costs in private business have taken their tolls on take-home pay for years. And, since few in the private sector have had pay increases in four years, those unceasing insurance increases mean a lot less take-home pay in private pockets.
REA teachers would continue to get their base pay increases and additional pay increases for time-in-grade and additional education. Although increased health insurance costs would nick away at some of those wage increases, it’s not going to put teachers in the hole.
As a taxpayer in the Rockford School District, as someone who believes teaching is God’s work, as the neighbor and friendly acquaintance of a whole bunch of teachers, I just can’t see striking for $180 a month.
In years past, I would have encouraged the school district to cave and avoid a strike because education was more important than $180. This time, no. I can’t afford to pay for 96 percent of the total cost of teachers’ health insurance anymore.
If the REA can’t understand that, then the district has no choice. Take on the strike.
As juice stated, people are not questioning the dedication and skill needed to teach. Most of us believe the majority of teachers are dedicated and work hard. The issue in the contract debate that most of us are struggling with is the health insurance. It seems fair. The REA does not think so. If the main problems with the contract are something else then please say what the MAIN issue really is about. Is it a longer day (which shouldn’t matter since every teacher says they are working longer than the 6 hour school day anyway)? Is it the increase in Kindergarten? What is the BIGGEST issue?
I thoroughly enjoyed the stab at J-Hawk 13′s typographical error. My statement is (mostly) grammatically correct. I am also using a highly condescending tone right now. Does this mean that the opinion I inserted is automatically correct upon being read? Please, your article shows us very well what you logically believe in and that is perfectly fine. We need differing stances to get on the correct path in this world. I differ from your stance and that is just fine as well. I do not understand why you would take that swing at the comment user and indirectly argue semantics. I really did not want to be the one to call you out on word usage, but by casting aside the words “gret” and “great” you did not exactly quell the idea of being friends with said person. Does that idea matter when talking about this subject? That is not for me to say. I just felt if the writer of the article was going to be petty with a person leaving a comment, someone should oblige and return the favor graciously. -Cheers
I want a raise (haven’t had one in a year) I want insurance (don’t have any) I want to be able to withhold my services from the people that need them until I get what I want (not really ..I would not feel right doing that) How dare adults use our children to get what they want..where are the truancy officers..our children are just allowed to roam the streets now during school hours? How is there not a system in place for other teachers to take the place of these striking absent teachers?? I’m sure they could be replaced easily. Adults should act like adults..your union crap is just that crap. Be like the majority of us and handle your adult problems after work..away from the children. Social workers will be the first to tell us to keep our adult family problems away from the children if possible..You teachers are using our children as pawns ,imagine as parents if we did the same with our children. Find new teachers..stay on strike teachers..better yet find a new job that doesn’t offer you one benefit. We can’t always have what we want..I don’t think
i like the lesson your putting out to our children. Hey kids if you don’t get what you want just walk away from your responsibilities until you get what you want. Nice RSP 205!! If you notice the errors of my puncation..that’s because my teacher went on strike in the middle of that lesson when I was a child and I never got to make that lesson up! I understand there’s 2 sides to everything but this is affects the children and that’s the only thing that should matter
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