Updated: Links to New Contract Language Added
The School District of Maple in Northern Wisconsin has dictated terms to its employees. These changes are in addition to the 8-20 percent loss in take home wages caused by the pending changes to state controlled benefits. Losses vary because the less you earn the greater the percent impact of the state changes.
Major Changes:
No Tenure – No Seniority – No Negotiating with Unions – No Maternity Leave – No Child Rearing Leave - No Rights to Transfer Within District – No Grievance Procedures (write a letter to your principal) – Reduced and Modified Sick Leave – No Step or Lane Changes (Raises). All things previously part of the district's contract with staff.
Note that federal laws about employee rights do not apply to state and local employees and unless Wisconsin law specifies all of these issues are local. Wisconsin has no real provisions to protect its employees or allow them grievance, except appeal to an administrator appointed by Walker. The newly appointed administrator is a well known anti-labor lawyer.
Gregg Lundberg, the district administrator, is said to be the architect of these policies. He is reputed to ride herd over a weak school Board. Employees are predictably hurt, angry and disgruntled. Lundberg previously had sent pink slips to every employee allowing him to pick and choose which to hire back when Walker's policies become law.
Other changes in the proposed “Contract” for next year include eliminating the definition of the school day, with the hours of work apparently whatever administration determines. Teachers can also be required to substitute during their preparation period, previously required only during defined emergencies.
It is clear Walker and his gang had no intention of maintaining the quality of public education available to Wisconsin's children. Now it is clear that some local officials are eager to use the impending laws to put teachers and education back to the days of school marms having little or no say in their work.
Disclosure: I pay taxes on property in the Maple district although I do not live and therefore cannot vote there. I don't think my property is about to appreciate in value owing to the quality of the local schools. Suppose my taxes might not increase … even though I believe in paying for good services and government.
Updated by geojumper at Fri May 13, 2011 at 06:31 PM PDT
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