Labor
The New York Times smells self interest in industries’ recent support for federal regulations. A variety of factors are in play, but one quoted source for the story voices the overall gut reaction of public advocates: “I am worried about industry lobbyists bearing gifts,” said Edmund Mierzwinski, consumer program director at the U.S. Public Interest…
Why did the Rhode Island Senate Bill 3050 tax cap bill become the law of the land? Because of this unsustainable economic trend: …These [union] demands, as in past negotiations, have resulted in school spending – and therefore taxes – rising faster than the increases in the incomes of the working families and retirees who…
The East Greenwich School Committee met with the mediator and NEA union negotiators last night for over 7 hours. No progress occurred. Here is the Word document-based press release they issued today. This was the first time I have been disappointed in the public statements of the School Committee. If I was on the School…
In my most recent post, I wrote these words: “We will learn a lot in the coming weeks and months about the priorities and values of the various stakeholders, won’t we?” Yes, indeed. Reinforcing the point of that question, John McCain is quoted in an earlier post about war: “Character,” writes the younger [John] McCain,…
Valerie Forti, President of The Education Partnership, wrote these words yesterday in a ProJo editorial: This year, the Rhode Island General Assembly sent a very clear message to school districts and to unions. In level-funding state education aid, after passing a Senate bill last year that checks property-tax increases, legislators sent the message that school…
My purpose with last night’s post from the parking lot, now that I’m able to do it, was to convey my gut reaction to the experience. Having slept on it, I think I can better articulate what was bothering me. The truth is that some of the requests from the teachers raised worthwhile questions, even…
Some reflections on the week that was, on what happened last week in East Greenwich and how it connects to broader issues across Rhode Island: LESSON #1: THE NEA LIES REPEATEDLY Just like they did in 2004-05, the NEA resorted to its typical Kremlin-esque disinformation campaign of lies and distortions to the working families and…
Word is in that Franklin, MA settled its contract with a 33% health insurance premium co-payment. Plus step increases of 2%, 2.25%, and 2.5% over 3 years. Starting to make 20% look like a deal! The ProJo weighs in on the teachers’ strikes. More on developments in West Warwick here and here.
In response to tonight’s post from the minivan in the Tiverton High School parking lot, the usual suspects will declare that I’m writing to script. My sympathizers will respond as if what I say is just common knowledge. But I have to admit that I was a little surprised at the comportment of the audience…
The Tiverton School Committee has notched up its pay proposal slightly, and although, to be honest, I can’t testify to the comparative values of the various health proposals, there’s a new one on the table: The school committee’s latest position on salaries made Wednesday, according to school committee vice-chairman Michael Burk, consists of an offer…