On State government employment declines 10 percent
Posted on January 11 at 8:26 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I suppose this would be good news if there were ample private sector jobs with even close to the same level pay and benefits available for those now unemployed 8,000 people. Having these people on unemployment or working minimum wage jobs is not exactly moving in a positive direction for our economy in the state.
Posted on January 10 at 10:46 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
My dad retired from GM after 42 years of service on the line and as an inspector. My mom worked various part-time non-union factory jobs, at a print shop, and a bank. They both still live in Janesville. My dad does odd jobs for friends, neighbors, and family for extra money.
On Power outage causes early school dismissal
Posted on January 5 at 3:31 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I also heard that there were issues around how/when/ability to make and serve lunch without the food temps falling/rising to unacceptable standards. Yes, a quick lunch was served to those who needed to eat before they left, but there was no guarantee of keeping that food and making enough food for everyone with over an hour to go before the first lunch. Like we need several hundred kids with food poisoning from school lunches...Right decision in my mind.
On Are you enjoying our snowless winter?
Posted on January 4 at 4:22 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Perfectly content with this winter! No backaches from shoveling and roofraking; no icy patches and bitterly cold temps for walking outside; "weather-free" driving for the holidays...love it!!!!
On Janesville school-union talks halted
Posted on December 30 at 4:27 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Not all teachers that made concessions around this state are doing well; maybe their communities are better, but it was at the expense of teachers and city workers (except for the police and firefighters, of course). As mentioned in a different discussion, I know many teachers whose takehome pay went down from 5-8 grand a year-if there are two teachers in a family, you could be looking at losing 15 grand a year for more work; were given ridiculous hours for teachers (6:15 am to 5:00 pm); women ordered to wear skirts below the knee; removal of coffee pots from staff lounges...it is very shortsighted to say that every district that gave in is doing well. Even the Monona Grove superintendent said that with the concessions, they will still be short money in the upcoming years...so either cut more money from the teachers or raise taxes. The whole situation needs an overhaul; this "new" way of education in the WI will lead, down the road, to the state being less able to attract top quality teachers, which in turn, will gradually reduce the quality of education. But back to the point on financial concessions, that contract was settled before Walker was elected and it was done in good faith...I am horrified by the number of people expressing glee that when the contract expires you can further punish teachers through ridiculous, unchecked workplace rules and, make no mistake about it, this Janesville School Board will take much more than is necessary from their salaries, and probably more than most surrounding communities. They don't want the teachers to see that handbook because they know there will be a huge exodus of good, younger and mid-career teachers in the next year and a half. Anyone who can get out at 30 years will be gone in 2013.
On Will school union contract talks bear fruit?
Posted on December 28 at 11:52 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Fedup: I called one of my friends to check my numbers; I did overestimate. The amount she is down per year is 8 grand. It is about 160 dollars per check for pension contribution and 180 dollars per check for insurance. Distribute that over 24 pay periods (24x340) is $8,160. I still consider that a significant amount to compensate for...even if she doesn't have to pay 6 or 7 hundred a year in union dues. She has been teaching for about 15 years and this has been a very, very significant cut for her family as she is the head of household. I am not trying to minimize anyone's loss of revenue in these past years (my own income has fluctuated wildly), but I will never agree that we should tarnish the idea of good faith bargaining, undervalue our payment to teachers, or believe that since we have personally had hard times we want as many people as possible to suffer like we have. I understand test scores are not as strong as they once were; however, WI (and Janesville) still rank extremely well compared to most other states- I believe we are still in the top 5, which is nothing to stick our noses up at.
On Will school union contract talks bear fruit?
Posted on December 28 at 10:45 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Eagle: thank you for your comments; I do understand your perspective. Fedup: not paying their union dues of (ballparking here) $600 a year will not touch what teachers in other districts have lost. I mentioned on a post some months ago that my friends who teach in Grafton area have lost nearly $10,000/year in takehome pay for insurance and penison contributions. In the Beloit area, I believe takehome pay went down about 5 or 6 grand a year. I am not suggesting that some things don't need to be fixed, but I still believe a good faith contract should remain in tact. The way the board keeps asking employees to open, despite the answer "no" reminds me of what my father warned me about: boys who won't take "no" for an answer=DANGER!
On Will school union contract talks bear fruit?
Posted on December 27 at 5:48 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
If teachers could make what I and other private sector workers make, I doubt there'd be as much issue about making contributions. My neighbor recently complained that he has to pay in a few hundred a month for his insurance plan as should teachers...the difference is this neighbor makes over 130,000 a year in salary alone. Average teacher salary alone = 50,000 a year. DUH. HUGE differences.
On This is Quinton, my sister Khalis kitten. He was very interested in how the Christmas lights worked
Posted on December 19 at 1:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
What an adorable picture!
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On Winter Storm Watch issued
Posted on January 11 at 8:28 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
3 inches or 10 inches...I am simply pleased that I have escaped over two months of "heavy snow" due to our mild weather since November. I can deal with it...March/April isn't that far away!