Comments

• On the article Geneva's New 3-Year Teachers Contract Could 'Sunset' Step Increases, Salary Spiking

  Rob T

  6:26 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

  Anyone with complaints on how little the new educators will make under the new contract should direct their inquires to Carol Young and the GEA. Both of the last two BOE offers had new teachers getting $40k in year two and over $41k in year three.
  The BOE was offering to reduce tuition reimbursement from 70% down to 50%, over the length of contract, not eliminate it like the GEA has now agreed to.
  So, how does this attract new, top-notch educators to Geneva?

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• On the article Geneva's New 3-Year Teachers Contract Could 'Sunset' Step Increases, Salary Spiking

  Rob T

  9:18 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

  Im missing any talk here of "Sunsetting" anything. Step and Lane still in place, pension spiking, reduced, but still in place. If GEA really gave a damn about new teachers, why are they getting next to nothing? And look, WE still get to pay for Carol Young's union time.
  Well, at least the non-union teachers aren't getting shafted, though I'm sure Young and crew will find a way make them pay.

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• On the article GEA Files Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against District 304

  Rob T

  5:39 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012

  Alex,
  The GEA wants money, period. They are asking for +3% raises / a continuation of end of career pension spiking-18% / they are asking non-union teachers who excercised their constitutional and choose not to join the union to pay union dues anyway. They want you and me to pay for the tuition for their next Degrees, then pay them more money when they get them- degrees that in many cases have nothing to do with furthering the education of our kids.
  The BOE has been attempting to negotiate with them since Feb., not just the last 2 wks. They are currently meeting with them.
  Please don't think I disrespect teachers. I don't, I, like most people in town just can't afford the way they want us to "respect" them.

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• On the article School Still Scheduled for Monday in Geneva

  Rob T

  11:10 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012

  Sean,
  One quick point is that freeze and 1.65% for year 2 is the BOE's offer to the union. The GEA has not stated publicly what they want since their "final offer", last week where they were asking for significantly more per year, the continued pension spiking and for forcing non-union teachers to pay union dues. I am sure that they have come down on some of their requests, but the offer on the table that you read is not apparently acceptable to the GEA.

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• On the article Geneva School Board Posts Most Recent Offer to GEA

  Rob T

  7:45 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

  Regarding the GEA's new tactic....suing the BOE,

  If you are in a union and you go on strike...
  Do you really think your employer is going to pay you while you are striking against them?
  Do you think your employer is going to continue covering your insurance while you are striking against them?
  Do you think your employer has to abide by any agreement with YOU, when you are breaking your agreement with them?
  Does the employer even have the responsibility to advise the employees of what they will lose if they strike? Or is that just common courtesy to let them know?

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• On the article Geneva School Board Posts Most Recent Offer to GEA

  Rob T

  7:21 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

  As Jeff Ward pointed out, this is a negotiation. Even if the GEA refuses to negotiate in good faith- say one thing - do another. Even if the BOE isn't playing the game the way the GEA wants- Roll over and play dead- they are working for Geneva Taxpayers best interests. That is why the spiking will stop at the end of the next contract, if the GEA has brains enough to sign it.
  As Tom Fortune keeps pointing out, teachers only know Step and Lane. Getting them to change overnite will be virtually impossible.
  As Bob M has pointed out. There are a hell of a lot bigger issues facing our school district than this teacher contract. We ALL- parents/residents/teachers/school administration- better get are acts in gear and work together to solve our collective financial problems.

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• On the article Geneva School Board Posts Most Recent Offer to GEA

  Rob T

  7:08 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

  The teachers are NOT going to throw away their union. Not going to happen. Despite what we think about our favorite teachers -they are the union. At any point in time the the members felt that Carol Young was not acting in their best interests, they would have stopped their current course of action. There is no separation between teacher and GEA. If there was we have heard it by now.
  That being said, the BOE is doing the best that they can in a really unballanced situation. A one year pay freeze, phasing out pension spiking, trying to get teachers to pay some of their fair share- and I don't mean making non-union staff pay union dues!
  While many of you here suddenly feel that the BOE is selling out- THEY ARE NOT. They are working in a flawed system - a system that has been flawed in Illinois for years- to bring our debt under control. It won't be painless, to anyone.

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• On the article Geneva School Board Posts Most Recent Offer to GEA

  Rob T

  9:55 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

  The BOE is doing a good job. In any negotiation there has to be give and take, or there will never be a resolution.
  The freeze in the first year is good. Sunsetting the pension spiking by the end of the contract is great news. Reductions in health care contribs and tuition payments is also a good step forward.
  Unfortunately, until a solid-fair compensation plan can be fully fleshed out, there isn't a good answer to Step&Lane in the short term. When Geneva has a workable plan, that can then be implemented at the next contract in three years.
  Whether we like it or not, everything needs to be done in phases. That is the only way to be fair to all parties involved.

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• On the article No Deal Struck Thursday Night in Geneva Teachers Contract Talks, Press Release Coming Later This Morning

  Rob T

  9:19 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

  Unemployed union teachers , Tom.... Unemployed union teachers..

  Reply

• On the article Geneva School Board, GEA Will Meet Again Thursday

  Rob T

  12:32 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012

  Tom Fortune-
  Interesting that you would consider the release of information as "fueling the drama". As someone supposedly in the field of education, I would think that you would be all about gaining facts and information to arrive at logical conclusions.
  Again, to restate, I am basing my opinion on what Carol Young said, on what her union husband said, on what the GEA has stated their position to be. Keeping people in the dark appears to have served the GEA well in the past.
  The lights are on now, and the only whinny/pouty kids I see and hear are wearing green shirts.

  Reply