Unemployment is pushing 10% in the Lehigh Valley. For those with jobs, many have had to be thankful to be employed, while disgusted with seeing no annual pay raise, despite increased healthcare contributions and cost of living.
There is nothing like paying for a family medical plan (roughly $13,000 a month employee contribution). When the kids get sick (because when one goes so goes the other) you have to pay a $40 co-pay for each (and know you’re going to pay it a week later for the follow-up) and the prescriptions which will cost $30 or $50. More frustrating is going to Rite-Aid to have to pay $50.00 for a GENERIC prescription allergy drug that is needed monthly (not Rite-Aid’s fault, this is actually how some formularies are making money – including my own).
Retirement. It would be a nice thought if it weren’t for the fact that Social Security won’t exist when it is time for me to cash in, and my 401(K) like everyone else’s, has lost something like 70% of its value (I honestly don’t even look at statements anymore).
Vacation. Twenty if you’ve been around a while and there are ten holidays if you are lucky. Unfortunately, for most, due to cut-backs, fear of losing one’s job, and expectations, even on vacation, or at night, one is expected to check messages and email, meaning the work never ends.
A few days ago I wrote about the NASD Administration getting an across the board 3.5% pay raise, and today I saw the Saucon Valley teachers rejected a contract that had at least a 3.5% percent raise per year including one retroactive to 2008 – and they rejected it!
A retroactive raise means in effect they are getting a 7% raise next year and a bonus for 2008 (the 3.5% retroactive amount). Plus, they work 180 days a year, 7.5 hours a day, with a prep period and lunch, have off for inclement weather, holidays, paid training, tuition reimbursement, medical nearly fully paid, and a guaranteed pension.
As public employees, denying this contract is unconscionable in any economic climate, let alone this one.
Where am I going with this? What does it have to do with Nazareth?
When the last teacher’s contract negotiations were conducted, the NASD Teacher’s Association pointed to Saucon Valley. Whatever Saucon gets, Nazareth will want and thanks to the admin raise, they now have support for it.
2 comments:
Yet again, the NASD administration has proven how out of touch with reality they really are. The same goes for unions.
We are in the worst economy since the depression. People are losing jobs at record rates. Salaries are being cut at every level in the commercial sector. Employees are being required to do much more for less, and all with no guarantee that they will have a job next week.
Taxes are going up, up and up. People that are barely making ends meet are having even more taken away.
Why? So we can pay the bloated salaries of people that always seem to find even more ways to take money away from us.
We spent $50MM+ on a new school. Why? Because our admins were to stupid to see the area growing and effectively plan for it. In addition to the new school, we also got hit with a bill to redo the existing MS and ESs to meet their new roles. We got a all weather turf playing field. A $1MM+ new weight room. Now we are getting a new field house at god knows what cost to the tax payers.
When is enough enough?
The entire population of NASD tax payers could show up at the next meeting and complain, but in the end, they will do what they want to do.
All I ever hear out of this administration is more spending.
Never, and I will repeat, NEVER have I heard one of them step up and give us a plan to cut ANYTHING.
Yes, the entire population of NASD tax payers could complain but won't and will do what they want. They want the best and will in turn, pay for "best." Never have you heard one of the administrators step up and try to cut anything because those individuals do not have a loudspeaker and everyone walks over them anyway. They do exist and making blanket statements that ALL admins are getting paid bloated salaries is off base.
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