“All it is is allowing us the right to vote,” said Georgia Rawson, a fifth-grade teacher at McKinley Elementary School. “Before, they had the impression that we just didn’t care (about furlough days).”
The teachers need 311 signatures to entitle union members to take an official vote on furlough days, said West Walker, a North School eighth-grade teacher.
Union president Steve Sievers, who teaches at West High School, said teachers have the right to petition, but he doesn’t think they have 200 signatures.
“The e-mails that I see are from irate members that are upset about this petition,” he said. “They won’t get the numbers. Our people support the leadership.”
Teachers who are behind the petition have put up fliers at Tracy Unified schools and plan to continue to seek signatures as the school year winds down, Walker said.
The petition would allow teachers to vote on taking three or five furlough days next school year, which would equate to a pay freeze for many teachers and also save some teachers’ jobs.
Sievers said a survey of union members found that 60 percent of teachers are willing to consider furlough days, according to the minutes from the March 30 school board meeting. The minutes also indicate that several board members would like to see a deal made with the union for furlough days to save jobs.
In an interview last week, Sievers said the survey numbers are skewed, because several hundred teachers refused to take the survey.
Sievers declined to say whether the union is bargaining with the district for furlough days, but he has said the maximum number of jobs that could be saved is 24.
Sievers said 103 teachers got notices that they might lose their jobs before next school year.
He said the union originally aimed to save 63 jobs with five furlough days, but a deal couldn’t be reached, because the district couldn’t afford it.
“Many, many, many of our teachers are teetering on the brink of financial disasters,” Sievers said. “Saving 24 (jobs) will cause more harm to the remaining 800 (teachers) than it’s worth saving on the 24.”
Walker, one of the teachers who started the petition drive, suggested a forum with union members to debate the pros and cons of furlough days. He has worked for the district since 2006 and could be laid off before next school year because of budget cuts.
“It’s not about losing my job,” Walker said. “It’s about the effect on all of our schools with overcrowded classrooms.”
Rawson, who has worked for the district about 15 years and is not in jeopardy of losing her job, said she could have as many as 35 students in her fifth-grade class next year, a number she called “overwhelming.” She estimated that McKinley could have as many as three combined grade-level classes next school year.
“Education is going to suffer,” Rawson said.
The school district said the number of students in each class will depend on how many students enroll at each school and how they divide out by grade level. Superintendent Jim Franco said kindergarten-through-eighth-grade classes will be capped at 32 students, and high school classes will have a maximum of 35 students.
Sievers said classes with students in multiple grade levels were not originally something the district wanted, but it “isn’t a disaster.”
He said not all students in a grade are on the same level academically, and the district plans to place students with similar skill levels together to make sure they still receive the best education possible.
“It may actually be a possibly more efficient way of educating kids,” he said.
• Contact reporter Jaclyn Hirsch at
830-4269 or jhirsch@tracypress.com.
Ya wrote,
"Wow you have a 401- teachers don't."
Perhaps but they can do IRAs an besides, they knew all of this when they took th job. Strangely enough just like people who take jobs in th private sector an many of them don't have 401Ks or even a pension ta retire on.
Ya wrote,
"Wow you have SSI teachers don't."
Yer right again, they got somethang else that works like SSI. An just like I mentioned before, they all knew about this when they took th job.
Ya wrote,
"Does your business supply you with the tools you need to do the job?"
In my case yep, 100% an even down ta th clothes I ware. Some people do, others don't. If it's a technical position like a mechanic, most quality mechanics have thair own tools an prefer it that way. Still, ya know all of that when ya take th job.
Ya wrote,
"When was the last time you gave up your weekend to fund raise for your work?"
Never, I do fund raise fer charity though. But about th only thang I can do at work is ta help my employer economize whair I can. But fund raisin fer my employer equates either to layoffs of personnel or cutbacks in salaries an wages ta keep from havin ta lay people off work; somethang they go to great measures to prevent if they can.
Ya wrote,
"IF you back them off 50% then you will have to pay a babysitter that amount to watch your kid that 50% and guess what- that will cost you more then a teachers salary."
Didn't know babysitters got half th same pay an benefits as teachers. Sounds like a pretty good cottage industry ta get yerself into. Work at home an play all day with three or four kids an even teachin em thangs they can't larn in public school. Wonder when I retire an undertake th task ta halp raise an educate my grandchildren, if I should charge my children half th wages an benefits of th local public school teachers in th area? Thanks fer th idea, it will make retirement all that much more enjoyable.
An thank about yer comment, if that 50% is goin ta th babysitter, an yer a teacher teachin in a classroom of 25 ta 30 kids, an yer all that worried about yer pay, ya do know that ya could increase yer present income by 100% by legally sittin fer four children an not have ta leave yer house.
But lest ya thank I'm just pickin on ya alone, thair's a nit that needs pickin bout what stillintracy wrote.
stillintracy wrote, "83% (Th dictrict's budget)" is "going to employees."
True but not all employees make th same salary an have all th same benefits. Fer example, th management over in th district office, who share some of th same benefits that teachers do, make substantially more than yer average teacher.
Not a good thang ta lump all th employees of th district inta one basket when yer lookin at raw figures that indicate 83% of th budget goes ta salaries an benefits.
Look, I thank that all of us can agree thairs waste in th system an would all like ta see our children fair better in school. But ta harp on th bad deal ya got because ya chose yer profession an now thangs are gettin tight just don't set well with others who mostly have a worse situation than ya find yerself in.
No one says life is gonna be fair an no one says thangs are always gonna work out th way ya plan. It's just th way things go in life an ya really should be thankful fer th things ya got rather than th things you don't got or thank yer gonna loose.
Some school district employees, includin teachers, in my estimation are underpaid fer th work they do. Others it seems are grossly overpaid an don't do much except ta suck up large salaries an benefits an it seems th teachers I know actually know who those "others" are. But ya know, it's th same fer th private sector though. Thair's always gonna be someone that don't get paid what they are really worth an that means some are overpaid and others are underpaid.
If ya don't like th deal ya got yer in th same boat as everyone else an ya can look fer work in yer chosen field elseware.
"Useta complain about th fact I had no shoes until I met up with a feller that had no feet."
Thairs a lot of intellegent thankin in that statement don't ya think?
So you’re talking about what you make and want us to pay more? I don’t think so.
The school district through its budget is paying. The information is county wide numbers Tracy may be higher than the county average.
65% towards salaries
18% towards benefits
83% going to employees
17% going for everything else
5% towards books & supplies
10% towards services
2% for everything else
The school employee’s say they’re underpaid I don’t think so.
The employee’s say they haven seen a wage adjustment in a year and they also want the school district to make up for what they lost in benefits. I don’t think so.
Time to let them go on strike and we can hire a whole new crew at wages we can afford.
Live on my wage for a year and you’ll be happy with what we as your employer can afford to pay you.
Health insurance $860.00 a month with a 6,000 out of pocket first.
SSI $257.00. My 401 at $600.00 a month cuz I want to retire some day after 48 years on the job at 66 years old on $2000.00 month SSI check. Not 90% after 30 plus paid benefits until you pass on.
I don’t know about you but I’m working 50 weeks a year plus two weeks vacation not the 9.5 months with 2 weeks at Christmas and a week at Easter off your getting.
Time to get real about what we can afford anymore.
Back off to 50% wages with benefits and you’ll still have it better than me.
I am a parent of 3 too. I also pay for your child's school supplies when you can't. I have bought your child's lunch when you have forgotten. I pay your child's way to a field trip that you can't afford. I tutor your child after school free of charge. None of us are in this business to get rich. At some point we must draw a line in the sand, as gut wrenching as it may be.
While I will decline to repeat how I feel about all this as a teacher being laid off, I will point out that the salary schedule posted does not take into account:
That to get a Kaiser plan with a co-pay costs nearly 600 per month for the teacher alone with no dependents, which is taken out of the paycheck.
Taxes
Medicare
Union dues (Since this an "agency shop" system, Approx. $95 is taken out of each check regardless if you are a member)
In addition to retirement deductions and perhaps any insurance a teacher opts to pay for.
I am sure as a hard-working member of the community with a paycheck yourself you can imagine that gross pay as indicated on the salary schedule you see may easily be over $1000 more per month than what you get in the end.
Sure, if after all that you receive $2500 a month that might get you a decent apartment. You can probably pay the energy bill, phone, and car. In addition, you may even afford gas and a steak once in a long while. But I am sure that when you are taking that home to a family of four, all who need to be fed, have clean clothes, and see the doctor once in a while, funds get pretty tight.
BTW- You get $2500 a month perhaps if you've already put five years of 80 hour workweeks in to the District. All according to the salary schedule.
Not intending to respond as a "woe to me" sort of thing. Merely to point out that we are taxpayers too, trying to live the American Dream, and are spending the extra time (and money- every peice of paper I've photocopied since January has been out of pocket since the District cut off supplies in December to us) doing our darndest to serve you and your children. And trust me, we don't want a Welfare Check with your tax money, we want to give a productive return on the investment.
Read what JohnR91 posted, he has it right...
If you would like to voice your opinion, there is a TUSD BOARD meeting tonight: this is the final notification to the 107 teachers being laid-off. That is 107 classrooms empty in our district next year.
Hopefully, someone will speak up and help them understand that these times will pass, and education still projects a 14% growth in demand for their jobs.
If unable to make it, it will be broadcast on comcast.
These teachers are having the door closed on them, and their voices will cease to be heard as this year ends. They will not be ablt to vote. They will not be a part of their local union.
(a moment of silence please......)
So what is the argument? I thought this is about the right to vote, not a position on furloughs? Am I reading something wrong here? Just let them vote- instead of allowing a few decide for the whole. Some say yes, some say no....but they should be able to say.
So Parentof3, like I said before, go put your kid in private school.
1) This petition does not ask if you are for, or against furloughs. Instead it allows the union membership the opportunity to vote whether or not our negotiating team should(n't) persue them.
2) Each teacher, IF furloughs are ever formally negotiated, will need to assess their personal situation and vote accordingly (you must do what you feel is right). As a supporter of the petition, I wouldn't expect any more or less from anyone. Let the chips fall where they may- losers please fall in step.
3) Furloughs can be negotiated in such a way that it is a temporary action. After "X" number of years, salaries shall return to "X" levels.
4) Sure there are supporters who are trying to get their jobs back, wouldn't you? There are also many who have jobs but feel it is right to push for a vote. One face may have taken the lead on this, but there are many others who concure.
5) Like them or not, there are many professions in the state that are taking pay cuts and/or furloughs to help make ends meet. The issues/problems are very real for them as well.
The people behind the petition aren't doing so flippantly. We truly believe it is a just cause.
2) Why didn't he participate in the budget cut process where it was made clear combo is saved first?
3) why did the board vote to save 31, and you ignore it?
4) why keep attacking one person: this bullying will not stop the numerous school sites in favor or a vote.
5) VOTING IS FAIR. why keep arguing the merits of one view, when you are admittingly trying to silence the majority (as stated by MR Seivers).
6) let each individual decide what they can or not afford. How do you know benefits are going up next year? You do know raises ARE happening next year.
7) koolaid? So all those districts and worker groups are below your reasoning? I dare you to find ONE DISTRICT not allowing their members to vote! I will give you hundreds that are supporting their schools and union members!
So, we the taxpayers should pay the few more (raises), while we get less? I say pay more- to keep more teachers! I don't word to get out how our district is forced to have declining quality of education becasue of a few teachers who refuse to go along with the majority! Isn't that what the unoin President said at that board meeting, the majority supported furloughs?
As a parent of students in TUSD I support your efforts to keep your pay and I do not like the idea of furlough days at all - Do not FOLD!