School Year Just Begun, Teachers Strike Looms in Chicago

[AnneD]

15. Public workers union getting out of hand ???????

Union membership has steadily declined with public sectors, while declining, still having membership. Breaking the public employees union is a planned part of destroying any ability for workers to stand up for their rights. This has been the goal of corperate America since Reagan took on PATCO.

Public sector workers earn less for the same type of work done in the private sector. Many schools had opted out of the social security years ago, so all teachers have is what the state has contributed (through negotiation) and what they have contributed from their own pocket. And on top of that, because of laws passed, some of these same teacher (usually female) cannot even get survivors benefits from their husband's social security. Yeah, how many of the public know that little gem. And in some states, like Illinois, the state government has routinely raided or underfunded their pension obligations to the teachers. I would not want to rely on a pension from Illinois.

Think joblessness is bad....try being a poorly paid educated professional and after a lifetime of work and sacrifice, be kicked to the curb with nothing, not even a safety net. And they want you to sacrifice what little you have to make up for their stupid, spineless planning.

Every one wants the kids to be educated but no one wants to pay for it.