ASK THE QUESTION....what is wrong with saving millions of dollars? What is wrong with saving the jobs of 250 employees? Why can't we do both? GCA services will off jobs to some of the custodians, HOWEVER....a loss of affordable healthcare, a loss of the pension many are already enrolled in, and lower wages.....WHY do this? What is wrong with saving millions of dollars? IT IS MY TAX DOLLARS< save the district millions and save those peoples jobs

ASK THE QUESTION.....why won't the School Board save millions of dollars and save the employee jobs? Is this just a dislike of the employee union? ASK THE QUESTION, it should only be about the savings and not petty politics. IS THE DISLIKE OF THE EMPLOYEES UNION WORTH NOT SAVING MILLIONS? ASK THE QUESTION, ASK STEVE DONOVAN< IS YOU WORD YOUR BOND? DID HE SAY IF THE INSURANCE PLAN SAVES MILLIONS< I WILL SEE THAT THE CUSTODIANS CAN KEEP THEIR JOBS>>>>>HE SAID IT, ASK THE QUESTION, THEY CAN NO LONGER SAY THE PLAN DOESN"T EXSIST>>>>THE NDN HAS IT< as do a number of community leaders.....no denying it now

ASK THE QUESTION>>>>WHY TURN DOWN THE ABILITY TO SAVE MILLIONS? WHAT IS THIS REALLY ALL ABOUT? THIS WILL BE INTERESTING< EXPLAIN WHY SAVING MILLIONS IS NOT IMPORTANT....change the insurance, save the custodians. The board directed the Insurance Committee to convene, it was prevented...the Board again has no will. ASK THE QUESTION< SAVE MILLIONS and SAVE JOBS

Go Teamsters...GO GO GO.

Labor Day is about the honor and rights of the common worker. Get everyone to join a Labor union.

Go nurses...Go cops...Go teachers...Go farmers...Go firemen...Go ahhhhhhhh hotel and restaurant,oh this is a sad group of non union workers exploited by stingy owners.........

Teachers will NEVER go for switching to this new insurance plan!

Bagpiper...CAN I ASK A QUESTION...what's your point?

Clearly it has something to do with the fact that CCPS is not understanding the value of its employees....teachers, custodians, and staff.

Privatization is not the answer to any of the problems CCPS is facing each day!

there is no point beetle. bagpiper's shouting is obviously from frustration as this scam is going through.

as i have said many times, as a tax payer, Thomson has never said the custodians are doing a poor job. he thinks they just make too high a wage for what they do. the scam, as i see it, is that the District and GCA are going to split the money/benefits taken from the workers and put it in their purse.

even worse, instilling this type of fear of income/life altering disaster in the employees minds is not productive. i'm not going to try to explain it. if you don't know what has made the U.S.A. the most powerful and productive nation on the planet for the last 200 years, nothing i could say would help you understand.

but if Thomson thinks the grunts are overpaid he should "man-up" and say so.

i will close by reminding all the citizens that failed to vote, that Thomson only allowed significant raises to Admin this year.

to me, Thomson is saying that teachers and support staff are a dime a dozen and only management is important and needs to be retained at any cost.

i believe the opposite. but i'm just a tax payer.

Beetle and Mimi, the point is.....I do not know the point. With the district claiming dire economic woes, why would they not accept a bona fide Insurance plan that not only saves many millions, it saves jobs. Why has Thompson been on a mission to bring "GCA" here? No one knows which way the Board will vote, however, they need to ask the question, why walk away from millions in savings and why the push for GCA.

and, the GCA move has never been about our custodians making too much money. GCA can do the job for less because they really offer no benefits to employees. No pension contribution, no decent affordable healthcare, and any custodian with more than five years experience will make less than they currently make. These companies do the job for less by riding on the workers back,. This movement to privatize strips the American worker of healthcare and retiremnent.....the two largest school bus privatization companies are not even USA companies......now, knowing this,....why would you proceed when we can save those jobs by using an American healthcare that saves millions......what is the really agenda, ASK THE QUESTION

Why GCA? Who profits from this "plan" to outsource? Why doesn't this article talk about what happens to our custodians' health care if GCA takes over?

This GCA outsourcing smells like Halliburton's and Blackwater's no-bid contracts. Did Colonel Thompson get his script for how to deal with the public from Mr. Bush? Now the "clerical help" is in the mix and everyone is against each other. "Keep them fighting amongst themselves and do whatever you want" is the way a good CEO works things.

But we're wising up about "outsourcing" and "downsizing" and "saving money." It all ends up making the poor poorer and the rich richer, not to mention deteriorating service and the trashing of American ideals.

And you know that Ms. Carroll will say, "We have to do both. We have to fire the custodians AND we have to change insurance because we have to balance our portfolio." A billion dollar school budget is too big a pot of gold to not allow the already rich to dig in their hands. It's like the pot of gold of the Social Security fund. Dump the "socialism" and everybody (with a good portfolio) gets a nice fat piece and can continue the high until the next crisis. And then they'll squeeze us again.

But what about the rest of us?

We all get to fight amongst ourselves and point fingers and submit yet again to the Masters.

Classes are already watered down past the skim milk level so that the stupid FCAT scores will go up. Colonel Thompson plans to come up smelling like a rose and glowing over the scores and the accomplishments of dumping the AP program, forcing all experienced teachers out of the system, the outsourcing everything, and the students all appearing in uniforms and every class in every school "being on the same page in the same books."

Don't jilt our janitors--nor our secretaries (AKA clerical employees)--nor our teachers--nor our students. What we'll end up with is not worth having: a rinky-dink babysitting service instead of an educational institution.

Accountability should begin at the top.

Why doesn't someone talk to Duval County janitorial employees about how they were treated during Tropical Storm Fay? I know that they were told they couldn't work and because of the storm wouldn't get paid. I also know that some schools had water in them and those small wet dry vacs or shop vacs whatever they are called were used. Nothing bigger was approved by GSC to get the schools up and running. Talk to them in Jacksonville. They will say not only NO to GSC, but heck no. This company doesn't care about people. They care about MONEY only. I also know GSC has been told they'll have the contract come the Sept. 18 meeting. If that's the case, why isn't someone investigating for Sunshine violations?

Remember:

Thompson is "ABOVE" the law, or at least he thinks he is..He is also Appointed NOT Elected.

Sunshine law deals with Elected officials...

IT IS TIME COLLIER DEMANDS AN ELECTED SUPER.

Elected Sup. in Florida make over $100K less than what we are paying Thompson.

Elected Officials Salaries are dictated by the state. NOT THE SCHOOL BOARD

Save the Custodians! If GCA is brought in I say parents start going to your kids school & check to see how clean it is & if it's not complain. Wonder if they hire new people if they will get a background check like they are suppose to or if they will commit crimes in our schools like they did in others. With the way it is now I haven't heard of any custodians commiting crimes not like I heard with other GCA employees at other schools. I hear Thompson changed the reading program this year throughout the district & it's one that Rockford used maybe he's getting kickbacks using all these companies from Rockford. Have to see if we can find out where all the new computers came from too maybe another Rockford deal.

Good luck custodians. You have my support. I have seen what you do way beyond your job duties.

If the job can be done for less, then do it. Our public school system is not a public welfare office. Or at least it shouldn't be.

Superintendent should have a free hand in these matters or else just eliminate his position and let public vote on every school management issue and get nothing done.

I have a friend who is a UPS driver and his wife is a teacher. They have raised a family on the same insurance being offered to the district and is handled by Blue Cross, Blue Shield with a large network of providers. Why must the district keep its fingers in an expensive self insured plan with less benifits? How can they rush a privatization plan thru but say it would take to long to switch plans? One place I worked at changed insurance providers every year to save money, but the benefits were never reduced. Why is there a cloud of secrecy and distrust around ALL MAJOR choices the board makes? At a School Board meeting Dr. Thompson told the board he would come up with a list of goals they could use to evaluate him! Arrogance on his part to try, or lack of board backbone? With Calabrese out of commission and out of touch district 5 has no voice. If Calabrese is going to vote on any of these issues he needs to do it in public and in person! We all need to stay informed and vote for good people.

Superintendant T, has to balance the budget, then the BOARD votes on it! What gets me if there is no money to spend on saving peoples jobs, then why does the district pay for teachers in Immokalee to get their maters degree for free? Down the road these teachers will want more money because of their degree! Spend a dime to save a penny?
Only 100 supporters for the custodians, where are the other 150? Where are the bus drivers, support staff, and TEACHERS? 5,700 employees in the district?

Once again........ASK THE QUESTION....why isn't the district interested in saving millions of doallars with the Union Insurance proposal? It will save everyones job. Why would the administration just turn their backs on saving tax payers money? Why would anyone in this country just turn their backs on follow citizens when you can help them? #20. What do you present to to support your position? and are you a before or after Rockfordgrad?

The Board directed in June that the Insurance Committee convene to look at the insurance issues. The administration outright ignored the Board's direction. No meetings were held. How can they jus tignore the elected officials? You call that doing a good job Rockfordgrad?

#19 upnorth, you want to know about the, “Only 100 supporters for the custodians, where are the other 150? Where are the bus drivers, support staff, and TEACHERS? 5,700 employees in the district”? Its called working!!

Good point Glassman, so are you telling me that these 100 supporters called in sick?

Re post #13 - IT IS TIME COLLIER DEMANDS AN ELECTED SUPER.
----------

I agree.

Also, I personally believe Thompson is now out looking for a job, as I am getting a lot of hits on my blogs about him from Google search engines searches using his name. In other words, people from all over the country are entering his name and title into a search engine at Google, and seeing my blogs as a result.

I haven't even had the time to update my blogs laterly, but, based on the amount of time these people are spending reading these blogs, there is already enough info on these sites.

Thompson, I hope any job search you may be doing fails, and you stay in Collier long enough to GET FIRED, so that you are never hired as a superintendent anywhere again.

Anyone who would accept a position by breaking a contract in Rockford, failing to file an application here, interviewing without ANY competition EVER, as the result of a secret trip to Rockford by a Collier employer conducting an interview in your office, and 3AM phone calls between Collier board members, and a now-ousted Collier board member who was your personal friend -- but saw no conflict of interest in voting for you, isn't qualified to be a superintendent for any district under any circumstances.

Here's a suggestion for you: Find a new line of work. And, do something you truly support, like maybe this:

apply to be a janitor for GCA.

Good luck.

http://www.dennisthompsonresponds.blo...

http://www.dennisthompsonbackgroundqu...

No, no one mist one minute of work time for this! They came on their own time! Be sides the custodians can’t afford to take any time off, they need their money!! Also custodian hours are not the same as most people work! Any drivers that came to this came after their morning bus run! All above board upnorth!

#15.. I'll answer you........why do you want to know? Why do you care? The article is about people, regualr people possibly loosing their jobs> It is clear you don't like any Union of employees so.... Go bate someone else.

Glass......for get him.....One day I will explain to you why he is so hard on his own fellow employees. He knows full well that 900 of the 1,000 support employees were on duty in the schools. He also knows that the custodians in the article are the afternoon shift and that is why they were able to attend. He knows this......so then it is jus t a stupid question isn't it?

@20 typo, regular and bait.....

ethics, a disciplined organization is an effective one. however, when a leader betrays his people, that is when it becomes no longer effective. when he must use threats and fear to keep control. when his people feel that they have been "sold out" you no longer have a functioning system. the union is the workers and the workers have stood up to the fear tactics to say there is an alternative. i applaud them for doing so.

ethic101....very noble of you to say you support the custodians....in what way have you done this? Attended rallies? Written editorials? Gave time at the phone bank? Placed signs and posters around town?....please tell me. You see for many of us, we support the custodians as a group. Strength in numbers and a labor organzation is jus that, organizing labor to work for the betterment of the workers. Since you probabky have done nothing for the custodians but spue lip service, don't knock those of us who actually are out on the street, on the phone, attending meetings etc etc for the custodians. Before you say it, I am a volunteer, not a dime not a gallon of gas for my time. Ethic's 101 that is almost funny.

Thank you Naples student, you are very wise.

re #31 - i applaud them for doing so.
-----------------
Same here. It takes guts to stand up to corrupt leadership, and to such leadership's inevitable intimidation and fear tactics.

This district's janitors are showing a lot of courage in this matter.

I'm glad students are taking notes...

http://www.dennisthompsonresponds.blo...

http://www.dennisthompsonbackgroundqu...

And, whether one supports unions or not, the fact remains: this district's teachers union was CORRECT to work by the rule when this idiot superintendent came along, and this district's current union for the janitors are doing a great job, too.

I don't like to pit one side against the other, but when there is no search for a superintendent, no competition, no procedures followed, and no application, it is clear that three members of that board ( the now-OUSTED ABBOT, and soon to be ousted DONVAN AND CALABRESE) were looking for nothing more than a dictator -- and they got one in Thompson.

Now, Dictator Thompson is reaping what he sowed. Hope he enjoys it!

If the school board members ignore the districts ability to save millions with the Blue Cross Insurance offered by the Unions, and if that refusal results in any employees being laid off or privatized, they will not be re elected. It is jusy a simple fact. "you reap what you sow" That course will be as steady as the northern star.

In other words, Gator, they are using Thompsons rules against them.

;-)

I agree, too ---> IT IS TIME COLLIER DEMANDS AN ELECTED SUPER.

Personally, I think that the proposal is to pay a private company to reduce the wages of my neighbors in the community. I mean, there isn't any other "inefficiency" but the wage rate, so the service for which we're paying the private firm "profit" is more like a bounty for a hit contract.

Send emails to the Board members telling them how you feel about this issue. Better yet, show up at a meeting.

UNITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The board works for the people that voted them in (WHY many of you voted in Abbott, calabrese and Donovan are beyond me) but they have to listen to their constituents

upyours: You're wrong. Teachers HATE this insurance that helps CcpS MAKE MONEY! We wanted a REAL insurance company for years.

re my post #34 - I meant to type:

"district's current union LEADERS for the janitors are doing a great job, too"

#37 Gator Hater,.....If someone where trying to take your job, kick you to the curb and lose your pension and healthcare.....would you vote for them? Sara Palin determined my vote in the upcoming election because I feel she best reflects my beliefs,values, and goals. To get out and support candidates that reflect or support what you need is only the American way....what is th issue?

#39, ethic's I f in your opinion I am a bag of wind, you are entitled. I answered you in the same vain you present, trying to be cute. You announce your negative views on unions and then ask me a cute loaded question. A question I would have no idea about. You stated you support the custodians..I asked you how. You then go off track about community service and announce you do more than me....I never spoke on community service dude, only the custodians. I like you ethic, but you should not call someone a name like bag of wind unless you would be will to do it up front and personal....somehow I know you wouldn't. For what it is worth, I would say anything I blog to your face.

same old complaints but it won't do any good until the parents for once step up to the plate. Organize and threaten to pull all the kids out of school in protest until they get their act together. Create a media spectical from all over and have media coverage from outside collier county. other wise you can talk and complain at the meetings until your blue in the face. I addressed the board and they are all liars and a bunch of crooks. take action and stop whining. i have a stake in this too as my daughter attends one of the high schools. don't worry about the kids missing school for a few days ,the district is going to lose its accredidation anyways.

Gator, what I stated is fact as I know it. If a board member takes a positon to take jobs when there is another way (millions in insurance savings) then the answer is that a movement will rise up to vote them out. If that is breaking legs etc, then I quess breaking legs has become the American political way. I would never vote for someone planing to take my job or my neighbors job.....that said, I am confused by your remarks.....is it difficult for you to put your foot in the shoe of a custodial employee?

I love my custodians. I support them (and tell them so). I put up signs too.

I'm concerned about all the name-calling on these blogs. I really love to read the paper in this format, because I learn so much about what goes on behind the scenes, on many issues.

The insults really get everyone off-track, and truly serve only to make people (like me) discount your views. I really try to listen to all sides, until the mud-slinging starts. Then I just move on to the next posting.

Gatorhater07, glad to see that you are back! I thought that you had abandoned all of us in the deep Abyss of the blogs to never hear from you again!

Good point Glassman, so are you telling me that these 100 supporters called in sick?

Upnorth, apparently you did not read the contract posted on http://teamstermancollier.blogspot.com . If the custodians had a sickout this would void the unions contract with the district, and not one of us will let that happen!

Ah, ha!

Did any of you find it odd that "Glassman" and "Gatorhater" seem to be the same blogger? (Ref. #'s 51 and 52.

Gatorhater, most of us did not miss you. We assumed you returned to work. What do YOU do that gives you too much free time?

#54,.........I doubt it compteach, unlesss each have split personalities.... Glassman is clearly a teamster supporter and Gator Hater is the exact opposite.

#50 LizzyB, ....ethics 101 is an administrator who likes to take shots at anyone supporting labor. They hide behind the blog and attack those supporting the custodians. Ethic101 tries to change the blog focus anytime you talk straightforwardly about the custodians issue.....Not surprizing he name calls from the shadows, he would never do it to anyones face

#53 compteach, when gator comes back on she will eat you and you’re first born for that remark! We are as fare apart as any two people can be, but she is a wealth of knowledge and I respect that!

Tell it glass, looking back at the blogs, Gator is definately anti union, as I recall he owns a construction firm or something like that. I am so glad I don't work for him.....

and glass.....I feel fairly certain that Gator is a he.....

How can you tell with a gator they all look the same to me!

#17 -Bramble, you're right! Let's let Calabrese's "mob rule" (remember that?) run this place. County government, too. Forget the pros, we bloggers know better!

#61 It was Unions that gave us the 40 hour work week sir. It was unions that gave us child labor laws and the family medical leave act, along with pushing for health care for workers and other benefits people have today union or not. What I ask is what is NEGATIVE about fair labor laws that the unions continue to help protect working families of this WONDERFUL NATION?

You know the Teamsters were the first to abandon the local hardware store to buy a Coleman cooler for $10 less, when Wal-Mart appeared on the scene. Americans did this to themselves.

As bad as consumers were, manufacturers driven by Wal-Mart did the same. So who is the bad guy now?

#61,,,,,,,,,"labor unions are the most negative faction of this country".......really? Ever work Law Enforcement? Ever deal with gangs? I mean really, Right now, the custodians would already be gone if not for the Teamsters. They may not survive, but they had no chance at all without their help. I spent most of my life in law enforcement fighting to keep people like your self safe from extremist groups. I just can't recall groups of armed and masked Teamsters breaking into homes and businesses, robbing and raping. Now I am a teamster, should I feel like I am a criminal? According to you I have joined the dark side. All I can see is that I continue to help people by protecting their rights to fair treatment.....

while all this local Union talk is going on, i thought it might be insightful to go back to the State legislature's views:

From Brent Batten’s column Wednesday, September 3, 2008

House Speaker Designate Ray Sansom of Destin said He doesn’t buy the argument that local governments and school districts have been deeply affected by the cuts, saying that school spending has only been reduced 2 percent in the past year, after roughly doubling in the six years prior to that.

“I don’t see why school districts need to raise their millage rate. Government shouldn’t expand itself when business is having to cut back,” Sansom said.

He promised, without specifics, to eliminate bureaucracy and redundancies in government as one way to meet the revenue challenges.

“There will be a lot of people talking about raising taxes. We will resist that,” Sansom said. “We’re going to be committed to Republican principles of reducing taxes.”

i do agree with Bagpiper that the District should look at all money saving ideas, but it shouldn't be an "either/or" situation. a 2% reduction should not be a crisis.

Happy Labor Day!
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As workers' paychecks shrink and they struggle to make ends meet, CEOs average $6,153 an hour and reward themselves with lavish bonuses and golden parachutes. Now some CEOs are funding phony front groups with a slick smear campaign of deceptive ads.
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We may not have the deep pockets of our opponents, but we have something much more powerful – the support of thousands of people like you.
Watch the ad and help us get it on the air. Every little bit helps.
Together we can win this fight and help level the playing field for working families before next Labor Day rolls around.
Enjoy the holiday, and thanks so much for your support.
Sincerely,
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The Attack on the Employee Free Choice Act
If U.S. workers could earn higher wages, benefits, and better working conditions, who would be against them?
A growing, bipartisan coalition of policymakers supports the Employee Free Choice Act, proposed legislation that would ensure that workers have a fair chance and a free choice to form a union and bargain with their employers for fair treatment, higher wages, and improved benefits. But a powerful network of anti-union employers, conservative business associations, industry lobbying groups, and right-wing policy centers and policymakers seeks to shut down choice in the American workplace.
In public, opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act often represent themselves as defenders of workers and democracy. In reality, they work to eliminate labor unions and stop employers and unions from working together. These groups are currently advocating for the government to exclusively restrict union formation to the corrupted and undemocratic NLRB ‘election’ process that severely tilts the playing field in the employer’s favor.

Who’s behind opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act?

National Right to Work Committee (NRTW)
Since its creation in 1955, NRTW has claimed to be an advocate for workers’ human and civil rights. Yet the group and its four organizations that lobby, litigate, research, and conduct polls is notorious for its dogged pursuit of an anti-union agenda. In October 2006, Judge Michael A. Telesca, a Reagan-appointed judge, denied a NRTW attempt to serve as class counsel for nonmembers of a union, ruling that the group “is well known for its hostility to unions on political and ideological grounds, which drives their demands for punitive remedies.”
Grover Norquist
The conservative strategist and close business and political ally of indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff runs two organizations and funds the work of another group to fulfill his his plans to “crush labor unions as a political entity” and ultimately “break the unions.”
Center for Union Facts
The Center is a front group focused on damaging the public image of unions and furthering an anti-union business climate. The group is a creation of notorious industry lobbyist and PR flak Richard Berman, who has mounted campaigns for his corporate backers to relax drunk driving laws, discount public health concerns about obesity, and prevent increases in the minimum wage. In August 2006, Montana’s Attorney General Mike McGrath called the Center’s $1 million ad campaign attacking public employees “inaccurate” and “demeaning.” Similarly, a number of television stations refused to air commercials produced by the Center in May 2006. One station manager explained his station’s decision to reject the ad this way: “We believe that the spot is designed to be inflammatory, incendiary, and panders to the lowest common denominator stereotypes about unions and union officials.”
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
The nation’s most powerful business lobbying organization lobbies to oppose pro-worker legislation, including the Family Time and Workplace Flexibility Act, Fair Minimum Wage Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act. The Chamber has repeatedly denied funding the Center for Union Facts, yet the group’s Vice President for Labor, Randel Johnson, admitted he had “served as an adviser to the Center.”
For more information on opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act and how they
misrepresent the facts and their true motivations, visit: www.antiunionnetwork.org.

#63 WHA WHA WHA WHAT? The Teamsters have a campaign against Wal Mart. Driving down standards for there employees, LOW WAGES NO health care and they make there employees work overtime with no pay. Now there telling there people not to support the Employee free choice act.

TEAMSTERS STAND UNITED! We support education, the community and this WONDERFUL NATION the good old USA!!

#66. Ethic101......... It is very sad you have lost someone....it is sad evertime we lose anyone before their time. There is good and bad in every walk of life. Every time a cop or agent got in trouble, it always reflected badly on all the many good and decent law enforcement people everywhere, not jus ttalk, I felt myself. Bad union people, of course, but no diffrent than say, bad politicians, Agnew,Foley, Nixon. Tt holds true for teachers as well. Teachers do a wonderful and important job, then, one will have an inappropriate relationship with a student and they all have doubt cast on them........not much we can do. You see in this campaign, to save the custodians, any chance to demonize us as thuggs etc, comes to the fore to discredit our mission. Frankly, it does not matter what union represents the custodians, the mission and issues are the same and so the response. Clearly, you and everyone else have to ask, why reject the ability to save millions by using the insurance proposal? Personally, I care nothing about the insurance, I do not use it. My problem here is the use of the insurance and its savings, would save the district from kicking "any" further emplolyees to the curb. When one tours the Estates and views the enormous amount of abandoned homes, you must ask, why would anyone in there right mind add to the devastation? Thompson and the Board can help prevent it, but here is what he said to the Board "You want me to surrender the health insurance to the Teamsters"...... it appears he too has an issue and his issue dominates his thoughts

Gator and ethic To say the Teamsters are thuggs is to say teachers are child molesters or all politians are crooks or all Priests or scout leaders are gay or any other sterotyping. It is all very well ignornant to classify any group because of the acts of some. I am a regular person, a Grandfather, husband, and a man who loves his bulldog buddies. I own a modest home with a pool. I've played Bagpipes since young and played at probably a thousand law enforcement and firemen funerals, even played a few years ago for the Prime Minister of Ireland., could I be a "thugg" .....absolutely.....but am I,.... no and none of the people I know associated with the Teamsters are thuggs

#73 Well said. Why wont they save millions and the employees jobs. I cannot for the life of me understand why, WHY Denny T? This is about the budget shortfal is in it?

WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? NOT SAVE MILLIONS and the employees jobs?

Wink News story on September 4/08
Collier school cuts could hurt child's education
By Melissa Cabral, WINK News
Story Created: Sep 4, 2008 at 5:13 PM EDT
Story Updated: Sep 4, 2008 at 7:52 PM EDT
NAPLES, Fla. - Collier County custodians are fighting to keep their jobs. They took to the streets protesting Thursday.

Superintendent Dennis Thompson is recommending the hiring of an outside company to clean the schools.

If board members decide to outsource, custodians will still have a job with the new company but at lower pay and benefits.

If the board votes against the outsourcing plan, some say it could hurt your child's education.

Superintendent Dennis Thompson tells WINK News if the board votes against outsourcing custodians, he will eliminate 80 jobs.

Those jobs include elementary media assistants and one clerical position per school.

Board members will vote on September 18th.

The board delayed the decision in June, a move that Superintendent Dennis Thompson says cost taxpayers an estimated $800,000 dollars.

The Teamsters Union came up with another option, changing the health insurance plan for all district employees.

The Union says it will save more than five million dollars in one year.

Thompson says it's not legal to not have other companies bid on the policy, and is not a viable option.

My take on this story is that Dr. Thompson is telling the teachers, if you support the teamster’s insurance plan I’m going to punish you for it, without coming right out and stating it! I could be wrong but that’s the way I read the story!

Rebel ...Million and millions in savings, yes, will it save all the jobs, yes........but Thompson is personally and ego driven now. To him, its just another mock battlefield and he thinks "he" must win....it is starting to sound like post traumatic stress syndrome, I wonder if he has ever thought about that.........

Roger that, Bag. Seek and destroy, at all cost. Take no prisoners. FUBAR!!! WHOYA!!

I think you are reading it correct glassman. That is what Dr T's plan is exactly. It's real simple, divide and concur. He is the master of it.

You do this and I will do that to retaliate against you in another way. This is just what he did with the last minute change in this years block schedule. He was forced to accept the block schedule this year against his will so he made is difficult for everyone in the meantime.

I understand the budget situation is a very real thing, but I sure would like to see some real leadership out of him instead of his bullying ways. The next 2-3 years are going to be very difficult for everyone involved with the school system.

Does everyone realize that the 80 "clerical" jobs that will be cut if the custodians are not outsourced are really not "clerical" at all? These positions are people who deal with children all day. These "clerical" employees are the people that take your children off the school bus in the morning, help them cross at the corner, keep them safe during lunch and recess, help them do research and find books in the library and teach them in the reading lab. Don't let the term "clerical" fool you. These 80 people that will be left with no jobs and no benefits are in direct contact with students all day. I am one of these people and I am with kids from 7:40 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. I do my "clerical" stuff after the kids go home for the day!

keepthefaith..... its is all just propaganda Thompson is using to give Donovan an out. There is not reason anyone nees to be kicked to the curb. He simply does not want a solution. WHY IGNORE A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR SOLUTION? I does what he wants without Board intervention. If Donovan Calabrese and Carrol ignore the solution...well I would guess they will seal thier own fate.......thats not breaking knees, nor thugg like behavior. Voters are free to vote as they please

You have to love the threat of, if we don't outsource the custodians we get rid of the clerical.

What's up with that? It's like post #37 says:
"If you don't play ball by our rules, we'll take our bat and beat you with it."

I used to think that at some point in time the state or feds would step in investigate this mess.
Then I realized......this is a republican strong hold. This where they come to get the real campaign donations. We're like Davey Crockett waiting for reinforcements.....it aint happenin!!

I'm starting to think the real agenda of these rich retirees is to ultimately do away with public schools altogether. Save those property taxes for better use.

If your a teacher, I think the time has come to ask yourself, is this really worth the time and frustration? The pay may be a couple thousand more then elsewhere, but the cost of living is ten thousand more then elsewhere. Then, you have the constant intimidation from the administration. Not to mention the obvious disrespect from the community.

I realize they do it because they love what they do, but isn't that what the battered wife always says, when asked why she stays with the beater?
Cause I love him.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

:-)

#84 ethic101, stop crying you’re getting the blog all wet!

So what this all boils down to, will the custodians keep their jobs or not? What I hear is that no one really knows. But several teachers told me last week, that if they do privatize, can the cleaning get any worse than it is now? I personally think that union that was in place before the teamsters took over, ruined it for the support personal. Since we are in a RIGHT TO SLAVE LABOR STATE, the teamster are pissing into the wind and their members will be the only ones getting wet! We NEED TO VOTE to have this law changed!

#84 ethic101, your argument could also be made for every company in America (FOR THE WEALTH OF A FEW)! I have never seen anyone start a company so that they can make less money then the people they employ! I have not been on the blogs crying about things from the past! I have few deaths in my own family that I could be crying about, but I don't!

#6 GLASSMAN........... If that is the case I would think you would leave! Thank You! After all you do believe in free speech and defending the rights of other Right!

Yes, I believe in those things, but I don’t think that you do! Anyone that is against people unionizing are the ones that are against other peoples Wright to do so!

#84 so since you feel anyone who pays dues t oa union supports thuggs etc etc, I guess you shoul never reveal who you are off this blog for the thuggs nay come and break your little legs........you are a prejudiced person.......we are here for the custodians and you are here for your own personal reasons......get some counseling please

Re: Post #63 - Actually, I work a full time job (something you know nothing about if you're a teacher),
------------------
What a ignorant comment. There are many teachers who literally squeeze what feels like 25 hours of work in their typical workday, and yet that is still not enough to everything that needs to be done for every student in a such a teacher's care.

I realize there are also teachers who would never lift a finger to do anything more than what a contract demands. Perhaps that is why there was so much outrage in this town when teachers did the unthinkable: work to their contract.

Some people typically expect teachers to work for free, around the clock. And, because the teaching profession is overwhelmining female, many teachers do just that, with a pay that would be laughable to a profession full of men working this hard.

I was overjoyed to recently read that NYC teachers will be earning $100,000 in their pay scales now.

Yes, $100,000 max. That is what all teachers, everywhere, in rural counties and urban areas alike, are truly worth if they can help provide a decent future for every child in this country.

But, here in Collier, we throw $240,000 at a superintendent who never set foot in a classroom, and build the Taj Mahal for a bunch of overpaid administrative jerks who likewise seek to stay out of the frontline of education.

Someday. Someday this nation will rise up or stay permanently behind the world in terms of teacher respect.

But, I am glad that in NYC the new pay scale goes to $100K for every teacher. Yes, I am glad of that.

Re: Post #63 - Actually, I work a full time job (something you know nothing about if you're a teacher),
------------------
What an ignorant comment. There are many teachers who literally squeeze what feels like 25 hours of work in their typical workday, and yet that is still not enough to do everything that needs to be done for every student in a such a teacher's care.

I realize there are also teachers who would never lift a finger to do anything more than what a contract demands. Perhaps that is why there was so much outrage in this town when teachers did the unthinkable: work to their contract.

Some people typically expect teachers to work for free, around the clock. And, because the teaching profession is overwhelmining female, many teachers do just that, with a pay that would be laughable to a profession full of men working this hard.

I was overjoyed to recently read that NYC teachers will be earning $100,000 in their pay scales now.

Yes, $100,000 max. That is what all teachers, everywhere, in rural counties and urban areas alike, are truly worth if they can help provide a decent future for every child in this country.

But, here in Collier, we throw $240,000 at a superintendent who never set foot in a classroom, and build the Taj Mahal for a bunch of overpaid administrative jerks who likewise seek to stay out of the frontline of education.

Someday. Someday this nation will rise up or stay permanently behind the world in terms of teacher respect.

But, I am glad that in NYC the new pay scale goes to $100K for every teacher. Yes, I am glad of that.

PS Australia may now be doing it, too - paying teachers a top pay of $100K:

http://eduoptimists.blogspot.com/2008...

Friday, August 15, 2008

Teacher Pay Down Under

The Australian teachers union is calling on the government to fund a voluntary system of performance pay that would be based on national teaching standards and would pay the most accomplished teachers $100,000 annually.

According to an article in The Australian:

Federal president Angelo Gavrielatos said a new career structure was required to move away from the current system under which teachers are forced to leave the classroom and undertake administrative positions to achieve further pay rises.

"This is a two-step process in giving professional pay for teachers," he said. "First we need to ensure as a country that we have a competitive professional salary to attract teachers in the numbers required to ensure a qualified teacher in front of every single classroom, no matter where it is in the country.

"Beyond that, I restate our preparedness to negotiate a framework that further recognises and rewards demonstrated teaching skills, knowledge and practice."

This seems to me to endorse something akin to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards but which would be built upon recognized national teaching standards and funded consistently across the country. More info here and here.

Kudos to the Strategic Management of Human Capital project for bringing this issue to my attention.
Posted by Liam Goldrick at 12:07 PM
Labels: Australia, Performance Pay, teacher pay, teaching standards

#92, you are the one attacking! There are hundreds of Locals. The one representing this area is #79 out of Tampa. The President is Ken Wood, the business agent here is Randy Pine. Now go ahead and print the ugliness "YOU" state they are....you have the right to say what you want, even if its BS. How much is Thompson paying you to attack people supporting the custodians.....your entire comentary is based on YOU dislike of labor unions......nothing else

#94.......excuse me.....this blog is about the custodians.......not the teachers

check your ethic 101. Everyone belonging to a union is indirectly and knowingly supporting and engaging in unlawful activities. You say someone in your family was murdered by a union, what union? was it a hit? What was it........what did the average dues paying ....,truck driver, bookeeper, auto worker, bus driver, maintenance worker etc etc etc have to do with hit? I want to know>... Under your logic, every American should be paying tribute to Japan for our governement having dropped the A bomb on them. Do you pay money to the people of Japan? Perhaps you should think about it, it might make you feel better.......

Ethic, consider moving to a communist country....Obama himself approached the Teamsters for their support and he got it....So sorry. I think he may be the next president. He also advocates changing all states that are right to work to closed shop. That means if there is a union in place you must belong......Seems the system you live in isn't for you anymore.

ethic101, you are here on the blog doing just what I thought! You are plant here on the blog to do nothing but bash unions, and you are a person that believes in suppressing other people’s rights to get what you want! I don’t believe a word of that story about “IT WAS A UNION THAT KILLED ONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS!!!!!!” You are nothing more than a hired gun up here on the blog to bash unions! Got your number.

and its not your point of view that is lame, its your sterotyping of millions of good and honest men and women you bash because they belong

and ethic, since you again state you support the custodians and think you know more of them than I do.....what specfic activities, and support actions have you been involved in? I know, you have been standing next to me at every domonstration, you have been at every voter registration drive, you were there when I was with Mario Balart, you were at the phone bank with me and you have written editorials etc...i am so sorry Ethic, I didn't recognize you