Grayslake teachers union to take strike vote Monday
- on 10.23.08
- CCSD #46
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The Daily Herald is reporting that the Grayslake 46 teachers union will be voting on Monday whether or send a notice to strike. Once they take this step, they have to wait at least 10 days before they can actually call a strike.
Negotiations will be continuing and a federal mediator will be helping with negotiaions starting Nov. 1.
I’ll have more information later this weekend or early next week.
It’s nice to know in these hard economic times, that some things just stay the same. Even though the whole world is suffering, some are loosing their jobs, and let’s not forget all the foreclosures in the area, it’s nice to know that teachers make sure and get theres. Or else they go on strike and try to force the district into giving in.
I think that teachers should not be allowed to go on strike! I sometimes wonder what would happen, if all the teachers that went on strike, were fired and replacements were hired. What job lets you not come to work because you don’t like their salary (because that is what it is really all about, not about the kids) and lets you come back to work like nothing happened AND get rewarded for it by getting a larger raise than the national average?
I think it’s time that the district says enough is enough and the parents should get behind the school boards.The parents need to realize that if they force the district to settle, then they are asking for a tax increase (by way of referendum, because the schools can’t afford their salaries) and our district will be in poor health because no one can afford to live here! Our taxes are way out of control and the district and teachers need to live within their means. PERIOD. They need to attach their salaries to the CPI and quit asking for more of what their community doesn’t have!!!
I fully support the teachers of Grayslake. I can understand everyone is stressed about the current economic environment, but is it really fair to take it out on the teachers?
Regarding questioning how much our teachers care about their students, I’ll ask a few questions.
Do you know that teachers frequently miss their lunch break planning for the next part of the day? It makes me very thankful for getting an hour for my lunch break
Regarding getting paid too much: Take a look at the parking lot how many 10 year old beaters do you see in the lot? Look at the clothing of single teachers (not to say they look shabby), but I’d never mistake them living in the lap of luxury.
Btw, when you go pick up your child do you notice how tired many of them look? Imagine having a party at your house with 27 children, and only you to take care of them. Now multiply this by 5 (Monday-Friday). Remember, no bathroom break while the children are around. How would you like to have to hold it all day long? I wouldn’t take their job for 100K/year!
How about having to work in an office where it can get up to 95 degrees or more on the hot days, but you still have a dress code? I would pass out! My child already has passed out from the temperature!
If it isn’t for the love of our children and their job, why else would these teachers be here? Also, regarding teachers salaries, how many people do you know with 1 or more masters degrees that get paid less than $50,000?
Regarding taxes: I’ll ask the first question, why do we pay such high taxes? At first glance some might say, its all because of teachers!!! Look around us, where is the commercial base, where are the malls, other tax generating sources. Instead of jumping on teachers, we should be focusing our ire on people that are managing our money in the first place. Imagine how much lower our taxes would be if we had companies or malls to help shoulder the financial burden.
One last question regarding basing salaries on the CPI. Perhaps if our teachers salaries/total compensation package was the same as other districts I might be more agreeable. But the fact of the matter is that our teachers could make significantly more in other districts. Do we want to let our best and brightest teachers flee our schools because we refuse to pay comparable wages. What is the net result? Lets say we stick it to the teachers, who loses? Not the good teachers, because they say, “I don’t need to put up with this job for the pay.” Honestly, would you stay at a position you really enjoy, even with good co-workers, but you could get paid 40-50% more elsewhere? I’ve done it myself.
I support our teachers, and in turn support our children.
What a limited view you have on life. Teachers are some of the lowest paid individuals out there for what they do. They have the task of helping our precious children grow and learn. If you have children, you should be concerned about who is teaching your children and what they are learning. This truly is a problem with the state of Illinois which is one of the worst states in the country in terms of providing support and funding to education. Do not blame teachers for needing what we all need in life. If you have children, be happy that someone has chosen to take on one of the most challenging and least paid careers. Where would our children be if no one wanted to be a teacher because of how difficult it was? (Just an FYI, I am not a teacher, but a concerned parent 100% behind the teachers of my children.)