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May 21, 2009
No Union Is an Island
From a piece on the Caruolo Act comes this familiar anecdote:
When West Warwick learned this winter that it would lose much of its revenue sharing funds from the state, [West Warwick Town Manager James] Thomas said the town laid off more than a dozen workers and secured union wage concessions. "Some of them will not have had a raise for 30 months. The same comment cannot be said for school teachers in West Warwick. It is out of control, there is no accountability and they believe they are islands onto themselves," he said.
Union members get raises in good times and bad. They'll explicitly strive to hurt their students academically to manipulate parents as voters and tear apart the community that they profess to serve in order to avoid a mere 3% cut in their remuneration. It's shameful, and the worst part is that the union organizations have structured the system such that even well-intentioned residents and school committee members actually believe that it functions as it does according to some irrevocable universal mandate.
We all want the best education possible for our students, but union schools are simply not providing it. And we all (should) agree that talented teachers ought to be well compensated, but really, the current system, handling teachers homogeneously, as if they are operating a factory, amounts to a middle class entitlement system. Enough is enough.
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Once again, I will say it - these people are UNION PIGS!
Posted by: Mike Cappelli at May 21, 2009 2:54 PMPIGS! PIGS! PIGS!
Is everyone starting to understand what I have been saying for years???
They are f'n UNION PIGS!
I saw a t-shirt on cafe press that says it perfectly:
EDophiles - Teachers Unions Exploiting Children For Monetary Gratification
http://www.cafepress.com/TrueAmericans
Posted by: Ragin' Rhode Islander at May 21, 2009 7:21 PMOnce again, an embarrassing commentary from your hatred of all things union. Hey, how the TCC never answered my questions about their claims on lay offs? Did you fix those facts too?
Posted by: Pat Crowley at May 21, 2009 8:39 PMNot sure what you're talking about. Clarify and I'll answer to the best of my ability.
Posted by: Justin Katz at May 21, 2009 8:42 PM"Once again, an embarrassing commentary from your hatred of all things union."
If the shoe fits. Just ask the RI kids deprived of advanced science studies because of the teachers union - at least until the ProJo blew the whistle.
You folks are professionals all right. Just not professional educators. More like professional extortionists.
If that town manager has your number, then the other unions are starting to catch on too. For NEA union solidarity is a one-way street. "Let everyone else take the hit of concessions, we're on our way to the beach for the summer. So long suckers!"
P.S. I don't hate all things union - I really like my credit union.
Posted by: Ragin' Rhode Islander at May 21, 2009 9:22 PMDucky, we don't hate all things union. We hate all things mediocre, bloated and phony = union.
Posted by: Tim at May 22, 2009 7:06 AMStop graduating illiterate children (takes 12 of your finest to pass that illiterate child along) from your public schools and figure out how to successfully patch a simple pothole and we might view your pathetically poor performing pigpen in a new light.
Patrick C writes - "Once again, an embarrassing commentary from your hatred of all things union."
Posted by: Robert Balliot at May 22, 2009 10:37 AMThis comes from a person who flips off people he is negotiating with. It is simply part of the con. He depends on everyone else acting respectful, while he engages in every negative tactic he can to gain attention for himself.
I negotiated with his predecessors, and they all shared the characteristic of first and foremost representing their union members - it was never about them getting attention. Can you think of any instance where his tactics have actually benefited the union members he represents rather than harm their credibility and relationship with management? They only benefit Patrick.
It is all part of the con.