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Wisconsin Teachers Chatboard

Facts You May Not Know

by Beth

Feb 21, 2011

For the past 20 years, we teachers in Wisconsin have had our salaries and benefits capped at 3.8% under the QEO (Qualified Economic Offer). This means that during all negotiations, our salaries, pension plan, health insurance and any other items that would cost money could not exceed 3.8%.

At my school district, and many others, we have paid 10% of our health insurance premiums for the past 10 years. During negotiations, we have asked insurance companies to come in and bid to get the best insurance for the best price. The insurance companies would not do this. As a result, we increased deductibles, went to a 3-tiered drug plan, and increased co-pays, all in an attempt to reduce costs.

I do pay for my pension because the cost of that pension was included in the 3.8%.

Many, many years we did not get an increase in salary because of the way we were forced to negotiate. Our last governor, Jim Doyle, did change the law but most school districts were just about ...See More

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CAT I am a teacher outside WI. I wonder whether your job requires 120 hours (or whatever the state requirement is) of "professional development" (courses) for each and every 5 years of certification? Our job does. I wonder whether you pay for these hours out of your own pocket? WE DO. Need a class set of books, or equipment for a science experiment; wh...See MoreI am a teacher outside WI. I wonder whether your job requires 120 hours (or whatever the state requirement is) of "professional development" (courses) for each and every 5 years of certification? Our job does. I wonder whether you pay for these hours out of your own pocket? WE DO. Need a class set of books, or equipment for a science experiment; who pays? Not the school. We do. Oh, your salary has been frozen? So has mine. No matching for 401K? I NEVER had that! My health insurance premium is about 50% and rising while the benefits continue to decrease. Who is paying the tab? Those who received their education in public schools.

By the way TEACHERS PAY TAXES too! CAT :-)

On 2/21/11, Mark wrote: > So, it's okay that Gov. Doyle gave into the unions for THEIR > vote, but it was wrong of your current governor to do the > same with big business for THEIR vote?? How is what your > current governor did any different than the last one? The > fact is, if you want to keep big business (and jobs) in > Wisconsin during tough economic times, you've gotta be > competitive. If that means cutting corporate taxes to keep > jobs from leaving the state, then he's gotta do it. I think > the bigger issue is that teachers and other government > workers are paid through taxes. A strike or demonstration > against the government is a strike or demonstration against > them...not a private business. If it's any consolation, our > salaries have been frozen since 2002, we pay three times as > much for our health insurance as we did in 2002, and the > company no longer matches our 401K. I guess it's just hard > to feel sorry for one group of people making more salary than > you and getting better benefits than you...especially when > YOU are the one paying the tab. > > > On 2/21/11, Beth wrote: >> For the past 20 years, we teachers in Wisconsin have had our >> salaries and benefits capped at 3.8% under the QEO >> (Qualified Economic Offer). This means that during all >> negotiations, our salaries, pension plan, health insurance >> and any other items that would cost money could not exceed >> 3.8%. >> >> At my school district, and many others, we have paid 10% of >> our health insurance premiums for the past 10 years. During >> negotiations, we have asked insurance companies to come in >> and bid to get the best insurance for the best price. The >> insurance companies would not do this. As a result, we >> increased deductibles, went to a 3-tiered drug plan, and >> increased co-pays, all in an attempt to reduce costs. >> >> I do pay for my pension because the cost of that pension was >> included in the 3.8%. >> >> Many, many years we did not get an increase in salary >> because of the way we were forced to negotiate. Our last >> governor, Jim Doyle, did change the law but most school >> districts were just about to start negotiating under the new >> law. To my knowledge, no school district has bargained a new >> contract under this new law. >> >> Are we to blame for the mess our current governor has >> created? No. When he took office, our state was slated to >> have a surplus at the end of the year. Several weeks ago, >> he gave $140 million in tax breaks to corporations and >> people who supported him during his campaign for governor. >> He has created a false crisis to take away our bargaining >> rights. >> >> Just thought you should know some basic facts.

Feb 21, 2011

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Mark I see that you are a teacher OUTSIDE Wisconsin. You seem to have the same struggles with your job as a teacher as mine. Unfortunately, we're not talking about YOUR situation...these are teachers (and other government workers) in Wisconsin. A teacher's average salary in Wisconsin is around $52,000 per year. In addition, their fringe benefits (primar...See MoreI see that you are a teacher OUTSIDE Wisconsin. You seem to have the same struggles with your job as a teacher as mine. Unfortunately, we're not talking about YOUR situation...these are teachers (and other government workers) in Wisconsin. A teacher's average salary in Wisconsin is around $52,000 per year. In addition, their fringe benefits (primarily health insurance coverage, life insurance, and a pension) total at least half of that amount. The biggest problem that Wisconsin seems to have is that their wonderful pension is unfunded. Plus, as a teacher for just 5 years, you are vested and receive that pension for life. I have the utmost respect for teachers and what they do (my mom, dad, both grandmothers, and in-laws were all teachers in Iowa). What district do you teach in?

On 2/21/11, CAT wrote: > I am a teacher outside WI. I wonder whether your job requires 120 > hours (or whatever the state requirement is) of "professional > development" (courses) for each and every 5 years of > certification? Our job does. I wonder whether you pay for these > hours out of your own pocket? WE DO. Need a class set of books, or > equipment for a science experiment; who pays? Not the school. We do. > Oh, your salary has been frozen? So has mine. No matching for > 401K? I NEVER had that! My health insurance premium is about 50% > and rising while the benefits continue to decrease. > Who is paying the tab? Those who received their education in > public schools. > > By the way TEACHERS PAY TAXES too! > CAT :-) > > On 2/21/11, Mark wrote: >> So, it's okay that Gov. Doyle gave into the unions for THEIR >> vote, but it was wrong of your current governor to do the >> same with big business for THEIR vote?? How is what your >> current governor did any different than the last one? The >> fact is, if you want to keep big business (and jobs) in >> Wisconsin during tough economic times, you've gotta be >> competitive. If that means cutting corporate taxes to keep >> jobs from leaving the state, then he's gotta do it. I think >> the bigger issue is that teachers and other government >> workers are paid through taxes. A strike or demonstration >> against the government is a strike or demonstration against >> them...not a private business. If it's any consolation, our >> salaries have been frozen since 2002, we pay three times as >> much for our health insurance as we did in 2002, and the >> company no longer matches our 401K. I guess it's just hard >> to feel sorry for one group of people making more salary than >> you and getting better benefits than you...especially when >> YOU are the one paying the tab. >> >> >> On 2/21/11, Beth wrote: >>> For the past 20 years, we teachers in Wisconsin have had our >>> salaries and benefits capped at 3.8% under the QEO >>> (Qualified Economic Offer). This means that during all >>> negotiations, our salaries, pension plan, health insurance >>> and any other items that would cost money could not exceed >>> 3.8%. >>> >>> At my school district, and many others, we have paid 10% of >>> our health insurance premiums for the past 10 years. During >>> negotiations, we have asked insurance companies to come in >>> and bid to get the best insurance for the best price. The >>> insurance companies would not do this. As a result, we >>> increased deductibles, went to a 3-tiered drug plan, and >>> increased co-pays, all in an attempt to reduce costs. >>> >>> I do pay for my pension because the cost of that pension was >>> included in the 3.8%. >>> >>> Many, many years we did not get an increase in salary >>> because of the way we were forced to negotiate. Our last >>> governor, Jim Doyle, did change the law but most school >>> districts were just about to start negotiating under the new >>> law. To my knowledge, no school district has bargained a new >>> contract under this new law. >>> >>> Are we to blame for the mess our current governor has >>> created? No. When he took office, our state was slated to >>> have a surplus at the end of the year. Several weeks ago, >>> he gave $140 million in tax breaks to corporations and >>> people who supported him during his campaign for governor. >>> He has created a false crisis to take away our bargaining >>> rights. >>> >>> Just thought you should know some basic facts.

Feb 21, 2011

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Wendy I feel your pain we have massive budget deficit here in CA and Im afraid my district is using that to try to break our union too. They have a "Hired Gun" and want total control of us over and above any money issues. Im afraid there is little public(other than other public employees) for us as they are all hurting too.There is a lot of misplaced ang...See More

Feb 21, 2011

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Ann Bracken I am sorry to hear this. There is angry rhetoric here in Maryland, but so far,t he unions are not on the chopping block....just the pensions. We are with you though!

.There is a lot > of misplaced anger and blame. They should be mad at Wall > street,insurance companies ,corporate criminals and 2 wars > instead.They have ruined th...See More

Feb 22, 2011

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Neal We don't want you to feel sorry for us. WHO WAS IN CONTROL IN 2002? You have an awfully short memory if you've already forgotten the Bush years.

Form a Union. You've already been screwed the way they want to screw us.

Maybe YOU should take to streets and organize to get what we have! Don't hate us cause we're willing to put our ...See MoreWe don't want you to feel sorry for us. WHO WAS IN CONTROL IN 2002? You have an awfully short memory if you've already forgotten the Bush years.

Form a Union. You've already been screwed the way they want to screw us.

Maybe YOU should take to streets and organize to get what we have! Don't hate us cause we're willing to put our jobs on the line... We're not overpaid, you're underpaid so JOIN US.

Most of any benefit your Slave-minded employer "leaves" you is to keep you from moving and joining or forming a Union.

Look at corporate workers overseas (yea the sewers, car makers, and widget makers) NAFTA was about preventing Unions from going to 3rd world countries and Organizing labor. THAT'S the Republican vision for America. Wealthy business owners who'll have all the services we currently enjoy publicly, because they be able to pay for them, while the "working class" lives in ghettos, with no public services at all.

Can't you understand the rich don't care about your plight?

Wake up and smell the coffee. Do it now.

On 2/21/11, Mark wrote: > So, it's okay that Gov. Doyle gave into the unions for THEIR > vote, but it was wrong of your current governor to do the > same with big business for THEIR vote?? How is what your > current governor did any different than the last one? The > fact is, if you want to keep big business (and jobs) in > Wisconsin during tough economic times, you've gotta be > competitive. If that means cutting corporate taxes to keep > jobs from leaving the state, then he's gotta do it. I think > the bigger issue is that teachers and other government > workers are paid through taxes. A strike or demonstration > against the government is a strike or demonstration against > them...not a private business. If it's any consolation, our > salaries have been frozen since 2002, we pay three times as > much for our health insurance as we did in 2002, and the > company no longer matches our 401K. I guess it's just hard > to feel sorry for one group of people making more salary than > you and getting better benefits than you...especially when > YOU are the one paying the tab. > > > On 2/21/11, Beth wrote: >> For the past 20 years, we teachers in Wisconsin have had our >> salaries and benefits capped at 3.8% under the QEO >> (Qualified Economic Offer). This means that during all >> negotiations, our salaries, pension plan, health insurance >> and any other items that would cost money could not exceed >> 3.8%. >> >> At my school district, and many others, we have paid 10% of >> our health insurance premiums for the past 10 years. During >> negotiations, we have asked insurance companies to come in >> and bid to get the best insurance for the best price. The >> insurance companies would not do this. As a result, we >> increased deductibles, went to a 3-tiered drug plan, and >> increased co-pays, all in an attempt to reduce costs. >> >> I do pay for my pension because the cost of that pension was >> included in the 3.8%. >> >> Many, many years we did not get an increase in salary >> because of the way we were forced to negotiate. Our last >> governor, Jim Doyle, did change the law but most school >> districts were just about to start negotiating under the new >> law. To my knowledge, no school district has bargained a new >> contract under this new law. >> >> Are we to blame for the mess our current governor has >> created? No. When he took office, our state was slated to >> have a surplus at the end of the year. Several weeks ago, >> he gave $140 million in tax breaks to corporations and >> people who supported him during his campaign for governor. >> He has created a false crisis to take away our bargaining >> rights. >> >> Just thought you should know some basic facts.

Feb 22, 2011

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