Re ‘Mielke to Management: Please Take Off 3 More Days’
Abraham Lincoln said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”
David Mielke, I would venture a guess that you never met Mr. Lincoln. It’s a fundamental of negotiating that you don’t negotiate in the public, unless you are certain that the public will side with you.
Sorry, teachers, I am a member of the public, and I don’t side with you. I would venture that I am not alone.
We are in a recession.
People are losing their jobs.
People are losing their homes.
You are arguing about five furlough days, only agreeing to take them if the School District not only gives you a number of concessions, but also only if management takes a whopping eight furlough days.
What exactly are you smoking?
On the subject of concessions, you don’t get any. I would never vote for a Board member who gives any bargaining unit any concession during this recession.
You should be happy to have your job and your salary. If you have to take a five percent cut, do so for the good of all members of your profession.
Did I mention that people are losing their jobs and their homes? With that in mind, how do you justify asking extra preparation time? Where does that money come from? How do you justify asking for extra pay for combination classes? Where does that money come from? Where does the money come from for the District to pay for your other concessions?
On the subject of furlough days, I would venture a guess that you are not a math teacher. If you are, then I better get my son out of your District. Five days, as proposed, out of the 184 days you claim to work is significantly less than eight days out of 220. Don’t you get it? Why do you isolate “management?” What is it about management, except that they are not part of your union, that makes them the scapegoat?
Didn’t Los Angeles Unified just agree to take five furlough days next year, and seven the following year?
I don’t get it. Then again, perhaps you don’t, either.
Mr. Atkinson mnay be contacted at peteratkinson95@yahoo.com
