Akron teachers get 16.2% raise over four years

[Enough]

Happy reading CGood. I knew this article would make you feel warm and fuzzy!

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregio...ry/380590.html

Akron teachers get 16.2% raise over four years

By Laura E. Winchester SUBURBAN CORRESPONDENT
Updated: 06/28/08 7:01 AM

The Akron Faculty Association has a new contract that calls for 16.2 percent in salary increases over four years.

The union, which has about 150 members, recently ratified the package, which is retroactive to July 1, 2007, and ends on June 30, 2011.

It calls for pay increases of 3.7 percent retroactive to July 1, 2007; 4 percent for the 2008-09 school year; 4.1 percent in 2009-10; and 4.4 in 2010-11.

School Superintendent Robin Zymroz said, “I felt that the negotiation process gave us shared satisfaction in reaching the new contract. Union President Edward Haley, a high school guidance counselor, was unavailable to comment Friday.

The union recently ratified the contract by a vote of 100-1. The Board of Education approved the package in a special meeting earlier this month.

Zymroz blamed last year’s change in the superintendency on the delay in hammering out the contract. Zymroz, whose last job was assistant superintendent of the Iroquois School District, was hired last July.

She said the district will not know the full costs of the contract until the open enrollment in the health insurance plan ends next week.

A key change in the contract calls for union members to pay 15 percent — up from 9 percent — of the premium for traditional coverage from the district’s lone health-care provider, Blue- Cross BlueShield. That change is expected to yield savings for the district.

Beginning with this coming school year, the district will match employee annual contributions to medical reimbursement accounts up to $150, an increase from the current $115.

The contract also calls for the union and district to research plans offered by other health insurers, with the stipulation that there would be no increase in the percentage of premium contributions or reduction in benefits.

Other facets of the contract:

• Beginning with the coming school year, the district will match up to $200 of each union member’s annual contribution to the pension fund.

• The maximum number of sick days over the life of a union member’s employment was increased to 270, from 250.

• Retirement incentives are set at $10,000 for each retiring employee if two to seven retirements are submitted; $15,000 if there are eight or more.

• School nurses, also part of the union, with a different salary schedule, will receive the same percentage of raises.

A couple points to mention:

The union recently ratified the contract by a vote of 100-1. The Board of Education approved the package in a special meeting earlier this month.

When the contract is ratified by a vote of 100-1 the School Board should be brought up on charges for negligence! You didn't negotiate in good-faith on behalf of the taxpayers!

School Superintendent Robin Zymroz said, “I felt that the negotiation process gave us shared satisfaction in reaching the new contract.

Were you trying to receive a "shared satisfaction"? What the heck is a shared satisfaction. Not one part of the entire article mentions the satisfaction of taxpayers. This idiot is so out of touch with reality it's scary!

She said the district will not know the full costs of the contract until the open enrollment in the health insurance plan ends next week.

This idiot feels she received a "shared satisfaction" in the negotiating process but doesn't even know the full costs to taxpayers???? (P.S. isn't this the same idiot that hired the bozo from the BMHA to be the next Facilities Manager of Akron Schools that was just caught for extortion? Yeah, your expertize on management decisions are down-right pitiful!!!

Other facets of the contract:

• Beginning with the coming school year, the district will match up to $200 of each union member’s annual contribution to the pension fund.

• The maximum number of sick days over the life of a union member’s employment was increased to 270, from 250.

• Retirement incentives are set at $10,000 for each retiring employee if two to seven retirements are submitted; $15,000 if there are eight or more.

• School nurses, also part of the union, with a different salary schedule, will receive the same percentage of raises.

Wow, you drive a hard bargain, you idiot!!!!!!! No wonder it was ratified 100-1!!!

[Surfing USA]

That means the taxpayers get a raise too.

A tax raise, that is.

[The Stig]

When the contract is ratified by a vote of 100-1 the School Board should be brought up on charges for negligence! You didn't negotiate in good-faith on behalf of the taxpayers!

Still more proof that public schools SUCK. Good money after bad.

This is absolutely idiotic. A contracted raise of 4.05% on average for 4 years? No, wait a minute. That's a 4.05% annual raise for working a year that's only 77% of a real job. So that's not 4.05%. It's actually 5.25% if they worked a full year, which is what they always seem to want to say it is when the numbers work against them.

These raises aren't given by merit, are they? Of course not. They're retention increases. And the minute you mention competency tests, the NYSUT throws up an 'it's all about the kids' smokescreen.

Is Linda_D still on this board? I'd love to hear why this was a win-win for the residents of Akron.

100-1 for. Real shocker there, isn't it?

[Cgoodsp466]

Public employee unions,these A holes deserve nothing.I can hardly wait untill the wheels fall of their wagons.

[Smiley]

It appears that the union did a good job for their members. They didn't get everything they wanted. They probably went into negotiations asking for a 6% raise and ONLY got 5.25%, but keep in mind they are willing to talk more about the health insurance.

[Cgoodsp466]

It appears that the union did a good job for their members. They didn't get everything they wanted. They probably went into negotiations asking for a 6% raise and ONLY got 5.25%, but keep in mind they are willing to talk more about the health insurance.

And the private sector stiff takes it in the ass again right Smiley.School board members are as left as you are.I hate anybody who serves on a school board and wish them nothing but bad luck. They have given me enough over the years. The last one out of this God forsaken State turn out the light.

[Smiley]

cgood
I'm sure you do all you can to do a good job and sell your employer's product earning the pay you recieve, right? Well the unions are no different then what you or anyone else does for the people that pay for their services or products. The unions negotiate the best contract they can for the people that pay them to do so. Now... who are the bad guys? the unions, who ask for something and make a case for their request, or in this case, the elected officials that have the ability to say yes or no or to say that they won't pay as much as the union is asking for?

One thing I do agree with you is that the taxpayer, whether they are private or public sector employees, pay the freight. When will it end? I don't think it will anytime soon, but Public sector and private sector have been creating a two tier pay and benefit package. New employees do not recieve what the seasoned employees get. Might not be tomorrow, but things will be reduced eventually.

So, like anyone else, you have a choice to make. Stay and vote for people that you think will make a difference or move, leave the area for somewhere you believe the taxes are less. Just watch out for other hidden costs there that we don't have.