I'll start by saying I'm an anti. I believe in a non-union work place were everyone can ask for what ever compensation they want and the employer can pay whatever compensation they want. That idea has worked for me and I have held a full time job since 23 June 1966. When I wanted more I either got it where I was or got more at a NEW JOB. If you are good at what you do you can get what you want in a union free workplace. Back in the day (30 years ago) when I was making $16 per hour and wanted $20 I changed jobs and could only get $18 to start, but $22 after six months. I changed jobs. I did not create a "union" where the very best workers' pay is averaged down by the very worst workers performance. As I've been saying for 50+ years, go get what you are worth. Same thing applies to teachers if you want $100,000 per year, go get it. Most teachers have a very good compensation package. My in-laws were both teachers & never made BIG BUCKS, but retired after 30 years service & more dollars income per year after retirement than before, after social security kicked in for them.

IMO, unions do not work. 1960's & 70's I surveyed for the state & all state works were unionized. Here is why it does not work. As a state employee we had state gas stations & people that pumped gas. Their job was gas pumper with no upward mobility. Pre-union they were paid what they were worth. Fast forward 20 years of being in a union and getting raises every year. The gas pumpers' pay was more than it was worth for someone to pump gas. The state closed the gas stations and gave us credit cards.

A job is only worth some many dollars. Forming a union and striking will not change what that job is worth. The union idea will never work long term. You don't need to believe me, just compare the number of union workers over the past 40 or 50 years. In 2013, the percentage of workers belonging to a union was 11.3%, compared to 20.1% in 1983. The rate for the private sector was 6.7%, and for the public sector 35.3%. The union membership rate—the percentage of wage and salary workers who are members of unions—was 10.7 percent in 2016, down 0.4 percentage point from 2015. In 1983, the first year for which comparable data are available, the union membership rate was 20.1 percent

Unions are dying because they DO NOT WORK!

The chicken or the egg argument. There have been more resources given, and outcomes haven't improved and may have declined. So, do we continue to give more resources and hope the trend changes, or do we give less resources and perhaps explore other ways to educate our spawn?

Out of curiosity, how much do some of you think is a reasonable STARTING SALARY for a public school teacher?

$70k

Engineers start at this. Why not the people educating the next generation?

I drive a school bus in WV. Let me tell you,the situation has to do with a lot more than just a raise.Health insurance and seniority are the two biggest factors here.

So back at you BLINDLY put down EVERY teacher. Say they are overpaid. You say how about the ones sleeping with their students . HOW ABOUT THE ONES JUMPING IN FRONT OF BULLETS !!!!! Where they making enough money ???? Now mouth about them ......


(that thud you just heard was me dropping the mic)