School board orders cut in teachers’ pay
Alternative content
E.P. Teachers Pay Cut
The game of hardball continues between the East Providence school committee and the teachers union.EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I.—An across-the-board pay cut for East Providence teachers went into effect Monday.
The school committee went forward with an aggressive plan to balance the budget by slashing salaries and forcing teachers to pay more for benefits.
The move came after months of contract negotiations went nowhere.
“We don’t have any money,“ said school committee chairman Anthony Carcieri. “There is no money. How are we going to pay a bloated contract?“
The committee went ahead with plans to slash teacher salaries by 5 percent and collect 20 percent of the cost of health care premiums.
The union immediately hit back, filing a complaint with the state labor board.
“They’re asking teachers to fund East Providence. They’re asking them to take a lot less and pay a lot more in health care than they’ve asked other municipal employees,“ said Larry Purtill, president of the National Education Association Rhode Island. “We’re just asking to be treated the same.”
According to City Manager Richard Brown, the school department is solely responsible for the deficit, but he said teachers aren’t the only ones taking a hit.
“We’re looking at making major alterations in the way we staff our fire department,“ Brown said. “We have reduced the number of take-home vehicles. We’ve stopped spending on additional vehicles. Every single item is being scrutinized.“
Brown said he’s only concerned with the bottom line, which is $4.5 million in the hole.
“We are in danger of not being able to continue to pay our bills,“ Brown said.
The matter will most likely be decided by the courts. The decision will be closely watched by cash-strapped municipalities and unions fearful of losing ground.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
I agree with emerson but also know that this has to be agreed upon by the union and it cannot just be arbitrarily put out there along with pay cuts. In my district we do have to pay a portion of our health coverage, but this was agreed upon by all members for our last contract. To just go and do this at the last minute against the contract is like a slap in the face. I am not saying it may not be what has to be done or that things are going to be different in the next contract for EP, but it is how it was done that was wrong.
Kudos to Emerson88!!!
I think that anyone out there should know that a teachers job is NOT an easy one for a multitude of reasons. There are many jobs that aren’t easy, kind or pleasant BUT a teachers job is a critical and crucial position; educating the children for the future. That being said, it would be wonderful if teacher’s didn’t have to contribute to their health/dental premiums. The reality is the vast majority of business is all industries, including non-profit require the cost be shared. Even in my position, we only began contributing to health and dental premiums after many years without that reponsibility. It was wonderful and in hindsight appreciated more now than then. I work in non-profit and haven’t had a pay increase in 4+ years. No cost of living increase. We began contributing 12% of our premiums. Could I use that money to pay another bill? Absolutely! But health and dental coverage are important and I need them for my family. Everyone needs to stop gripping about contributing and come up with what is a reasonable & effective contribution. The days of not paying for premiums has pretty much end everywhere. The teachers of EP are not alone. I will leave out personal attacks on others “posting” remarks. The bottom line is to come up with a plan that works. EP can no longer afford to have ANY City or Unionized employees NOT contributing to their benefits. I personally feel it should be the same across-the-board for all those receiving benefits in the City of East Providence. This is everyone’s responsibility to DO THE RIGHT THING. Please, this has gone on for so long. But understand, I mean all City/Unionized Employees. Stop wasting tax payer dollars on attorneys. That isn’t helping improve the situation either, whether or not they are on retainer. Enough said.
What I really can not believe about this is that this is being argued over who thinks they are more immune to not having to get pay cuts and to pay co-pays than some one else. I am very sure that the auto workers think that they shouldn’t have to take cuts but if they want a job they just may. Are they more important than a teacher or vise-versa? When AT&T told their workers that they had to co-pay their health insurance was there a big stink? I’m sure there was, but did it stop the co-pay??? NO! My point should be obvious!!! Thank you!
Oh, and sburke, how much of your pay is “legal” and taxed by EP????? I wonder if you felt me asking as being just inappropriate as I did?????
ALL OF MY PAY IS LEGAL AND GOES TO E.P., THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN EVEN WHEN I PUT IN MORE THAT ENOUGH ESTIMATED TAX WE STILL HAD TO PAY!!!!! SO THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM A PROUD SECOND GENERATION AMERICAN AND HAVE LIVED IN RI ALL MY LIFE -56+ YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Interesting comment about the many superintendent salaries that EP is paying. If I recall correctly, this new guy wasn’t so concerened about the Foster/Gloster budget when he was terminated early as their superintendent. I’m sure he was glad he had a contract with them that was honored. Hypocrite!
Facts;
EP IS the only city/town that teachers do not pay anything for health insurance. Non bindig Arbitartion teachers Ok’d his decision - School dept said NO. A couple of years ago school dept signs new contract with teachers, now the new committee takes it away, illegally. How about the top people what did they lose? = nothing. If teachers mention strike the school committee will say it’s illegal, as it is. What the committee did is also illegal, but they claim it’s different. I dont know of any teacher that just works 180 days. If they do they are not good teachers. They have to be taking classes or going to conferences. OK so if they work only 180 days (remember they get no overtime) add holidays + weekends and that gives them approx 10 weeks off. Which considering they do not get OT is not bad. That is also stating that they do nothing during those 10 weeks off, which we know is not true. I do understnad and hopefully the teachers do that IF the Schools are in such a bad way, 1st shame on them considering how many supers they have gone through and made deals with when they left or were asked to leave - how much did that cost us? 2nd does the teachers really want to be responsable for the huge tax increase the committee claims will happen (which I think shall we say inflated. Lets not forget this could go through all the unionsin the city and maybe the state. especially with this ***** running the state. LETS ALL STEP BACK TAKE A DEEP BREATH & THINK
sburke,
Equally childish of you to be negatively critical of the teachers. And re: your income—-how much of it is legal and being taxed for EP?? Just asking!
I cannot believe the ignorance being voiced here. the rules of even posting a comment are respect others! I want you to come into my classroom of first graders and work for a week and say that we are overpaid and “under worked”. That is just ridiculous. I work hard daily, I bring my work home with me, I take pride in what I do, and I love my job! Yet it takes a lot of energy and it takes a ton of work. Many people don’t even realize it! I put a lot of money into my own classroom. We don’t get crayons, pencils, and at this point in the year, even copy paper is bought by teachers. Many children walk through my doors without lunch, snack, appropriate clothing, etc… I make sure that their needs are meet on a daily basis. I must continue my education by spending time taking classes and attending trainings and meeting with professionals in my building and around the state. I had one full week off this summer! That is right. I didn’t have the whole summer off and if you can find one teacher who does, I would be surprised. Yes it sounds like we only work 180 days, but there is so much more that your ignorance is missing. Please don’t talk unless you knjow the cost not just financially but emotionally and physically we put in on a daily basis. Come into a school sometime and see instead of critizing online.
Advertisement