Peabody teachers are still awaiting the City to finalize their recently agreed upon, and one year late, contract.
Read the Salem News story here.
Now the article says that negotiators for both sides met on Friday of last week to iron out some minor details. This would then say to me that the big "delay" is only actually Monday (and now part of Tuesday) and NOT the three week ordeal described by the teacher's union representative.
Now don't get me wrong, I usually support the teachers as I think they are the most important people in this (or almost any) City... But I am NOT a huge fan of the teacher's union as a rule.
And in this instance I think they are making mountains out of molehills and all to get more attention for themselves. Truly, they only hurt themselves over and over again with these
protest marches and rallies.
If you REALLY want to get the people to be on your side of these issues... make them aware of the problems, show them what you are dealing with, and then let them express their concern to their elected officials.
By clogging up Peabody Square (again) you are giving more fodder to the ANTI-EDUCATION LEGION that seems to forever haunt Peabody.
Farewell Dark City....
11 years ago
7 comments:
OG says...hold on now PI...when OG suggested that the public be in the loop on negotiations I was blasted on here and told that I was naive to the whole union negotiations confidentiality process and now you are suggesting that the public needs to know the issues faced by the teachers???? geez, what a great idea !!
I am talking about issues, not internal negotiations. Sorry if I wasn't clear.
I am saying if the teachers do not let the public know about the issues and problems in the school system, such as the low retention rate due to lower than average salaries, then we will never know.
I do not think that screaming and yelling and creating a public disturbance is the way to win the hearts and minds of voters... you need to do this in a more rational and constructive manner.
And then they might get more support and respect. They already have mine on both counts.
I still do not think there would be ANY productive good in having the contract negotiations open to the public.
Oh, and OG...
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
I happen to agree that marching in front of city hall only projects a negative view of the teachers on the public. These guys are already being ripped apart by many who seem to think that teaching is a part-time occupation not worthy of a real salary. This type of demonstration only re-inforces their viewpoint and makes others on the fence agree with them.
There really is no reasonable excuse for the contract not being signed, though. The union and management came to an agreement, the union body voted to accept the agreement and THEN the mayor decides it needs some re-working? Why did he approve of the initial agreement in the first place if he wasn't satisfied? If the two parties had an agreement, shouldn't he be obliged to honor it? Something dosen't quite pass the sniff test here.
WGAF:
Do we really know if it was the Mayor who wanted these so called 'changes' made?
Since both sides did meet on the issue, and it seems things were 'fixed' last Friday, I am less sympathetic to those saying that it has been delayed for weeks.
That being said... Friday has happened and the changes were made and done (at least this was implied in the Salem News article) so Mayor Bonfanti... sign the contract and lets get on with it.
After more information concerning this situation in the Lynn Item today, I now believe the City is purposefully stonewalling the contract in the hopes of getting additional concessions from the Peabody teachers... AFTER they have already ratified the agreed upon contract terms.
Shame on the City Council and the Mayor.
OG says...
perhaps they are trying to pull back the ludicrous 9/11 holiday? isn't it amazing how that went from a national news story to a virtual non issue today?
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