..the REA believes it a political move that they should now pay for their healthcare, and that the “social contract” always was that teachers would be low payed but have job security and free healthcare. I think the reality of what has transpired with our healthcare system has not yet dawned on the REA. Many people can not pay for their own healthcare let alone shoulder the burdens of theirs, increased taxes, etc.
…most people are now taking home less money than they did six years ago. No one is getting more than a 1 – 1.5% increase a year and everyone’s health care premiums are skyrocketing. And in the private sector, a lot of those premiums are paying for high deductible policies (my family policy is costing me $5200/year and only kicks in after the $3000 out of pocket). Again, everyone is bringing home less which means we can’t afford to pay more taxes. Sad, but true.
My employer switched to a high deductible health plan this year. I still pay $1000/ mth in premiums (employee share) plus now I have a $5k deductible.
So, my son sprained his ankle and now I get a $1000 bill from Valley because I haven’t hit my deductible yet. (That’s with the insurer negotiated rates). All doctor visits other than preventive care are out of pocket until the deductible is hit.
Thank you Obama for accelerating this for happening to me because our employer is trying to avoid the Cadillac tax.
Teachers, get real with your minimal co-pays.
Thed
Same here – employer (very large bank) switched to deductible based plan from co-pay based plan two years back. First year annual deductible was $1200. Next year, premium went up by 4% and deductibles doubled to $2400.
Earlier, we would pay $20 copay for any sick visits for out child. Now, you pay $110 out of pocket to visit the pediatrician.
Basically for relatively healthy people with few sick visits a year, medical expenses have become out of pocket with insurance only kicking in for large ailment. That would have been acceptable but for the fact that premiums actually INCREASED at the same time.
This is how the Obamacare expansion is being paid for. Teacher’s unions supported Obamacare 100%. Why do they now expect to be excluded from all effects?
Teachers in Ridgewood are not “low paid” even their starting salaries. They enjoy job security via tenure, a generous defined pension that includes medical coverage for a spouse and they only work 9 months out of the year. On top of that every store I visit seems to offer “educator discounts” whether it be for clothing or craft supplies. I for one am so tired of hearing about how hard they work and how underpaid they are in our school district.
Essentially because they get such good benefits, many teachers’ spouses declined medical coverage at their jobs because teachers’ benefits are so good and cheap.
Why should we subsidize them? we should say that teachers don’t qualify for health insurance if they can be on another plan via another family member UNLESS they pay full freight on the medical plan.
At my firm, I have to certify that my spouse doesn’t have cover sage elsewhere. If she does, I need to pay a surcharge to my company because the company is paying more for the plan than is necessary. BOE should do that for teachers!
Thed
John is right..hey math geniuses at School of a Rocking ridgewood..
Those deductibles are forcing hard choices by those parents who pay your salary and benefits.Join the real world..BOE Stand our ground on this rip off.
Intolerable conduct by the REA, they are trying to intimidate Ridgewood parents. Don’t let them. Tell them that we’re not subsidizing any more of their “platinum” health benefits which are better than any private sector employer plan. Support the BOE. Support our students. Support Ridgewood taxpayers.
Teachers the time has come to take your heads out of the ground and realize that the days of entitlement are over. You and your union have to get in to the real world. Also it is time to take a good look around the majority of residents do not support you.
If not Now when Citizens of Ridgewood. ..? This would be a repeated fight and massive cost issue each contract period ; and caving in now is to waste the time efforts and money invested already.note Teachers still on the towns fat pay clock while this stalemate continues.Some towns would lock them out.
Lock them out July 1st?
REA agreed to settlement decided by state appointed arbitrator, BOE refused to accept it. Why would teachers be locked out when there hasn’t been a contract to sign?
If these teachers are without a contract, why can’t the BOE hire new teachers for the start of the new school year in September? I’m sure there are lots of talented educators and recent Teachers College grads who would love to teach in our schools and work with our students. Unlike the current group, they might actually be willing to give an extra, non-contractual effort? Then we can start to rebuild the tradition of excellence in our schools, which has apparently fallen on hard times…
It’s possible our current teachers have misunderstood something fundamental: Just because you work for a school board with a “tradition” of excellence does not mean you are excellent. Resting on the laurels of a once proud school system does not justify your contract demands on wage growth above inflation, accumulated sick leave payouts, and better health care benefits than the rest of us get even though we subsidize your health plans. We need to hire educators that want to work with our students and go the extra mile, not short change them due to contractual demands.
I say support the teachers… as long as they keep punishing your children by withholding clubs, college letters of recommendation, academic support (they leave period 9 at 3:15 – even if in mid-sentence) and other services.
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Remember… they LOVE your children.
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Do it fer da kidz.
Teachers don’t just get a salary increase, they get a step increase as well for every year they teach. This amounts to anywhere between 10 – 20 % salary increase in total. They never tell anyone about that. Hold firm BOE, it’s time educators joined the real world.
11:09 you are misinformed. What occurs with a salary increase is the following: the BOE raises the salary budget by approved percentage(i.e. 2.8%). That amount is broadcast across the step guide providing the various steps with a new value. Some increase, some remain static and some actually decrease. If you review the guides, which are publicly displayed, you will see where the greatest changes are made…NO ONE gets 10 – 20% increases.
2.8% is way above inflation which is running around 1.5% and also above the 2% property tax cap, so why on earth do you think you deserve that from taxpayers who aren’t seeing any annual wage increases? Wake up 3:12.
Average private sector wage increases for 2015 were above 3%. Pay raises for people with college degrees are fairing even better than that. Are there people who aren’t seeing wage increases? Yes. But perhaps that says something about the person or the job rather than the economy.
Teachers have been taking home less money each year for a number of years.
Teachers will never get bonuses, no matter how good the economy gets.
Teachers will never get company cars, club memberships, or any other perks that are seen in the private sector.
Teachers will NEVER get anything more than a mediocre pay raise because of the 2% cap.
So when teachers fight for the scraps from the table it shouldn’t be a surprise.
Do you really want to devalue the profession to the point that nobody will ever want to be a teacher? There is already a teacher shortage, which will only get worse.
But keep up with the lies about teachers who don’t care. Teachers who earn $200,000 a year. Teachers who won’t write recommendations. Teachers who only work 181 days a year. Teachers who only care about taking from taxpayers while doing nothing. Keep up with these lies and tell the potential future teachers that it is not the best career path. Why would anyone subject themselves to such outright lies and hatred?
I’m sure there are lots of hungry, young, talented educators recently graduated from Teachers College who would love to work with our students in Ridgewood and go above and beyond their contractual obligations. Why don’t we try that and replace any teacher disastisfied with their current deal in Ridgewood? If there is such a teacher shortage I’m sure they’ll find work easily with another school board. I’m calling your bluff 11:48. Oh, can you please cite your source about +3% private sector wage growth in 2015?
Who in the private sector gets company sponsored club memberships? Are you serious? What about your perks like summers off, tutoring outside of school for cash (yeah, we know), accumulating sick leave year after year to be paid out at retirement based on your highest final comp rate, step wage increases, subsidized “platinum” health plan benefits, and defined benefit pension plans for life that start from an average TPAF retirement age of 62. No one in the private sector gets perks like these, let alone club memberships. Wake up 11:48, your ruse has been exposed.
11:48 – What planet are you on???? Private sector wage increases above 3%??? Please provide your source because no one I know got more 3%. I got 1.5% after 4 years of 0%. My wife got 2% after getting .5% last year and 0% fand additional 4 years. Really, name your source. Everyone is taking home less and bonuses have shrunken. There are no company car, club memberships, expensive meals, expense accounts, perks. Keep lying dear teacher. There is no teacher shortage in Ridgewood; I can assure you that you can be replaced on a moments notice.
Perks? I guess if you define 12-14 hour days 12 months a year, putting hours on the weekend, long commutes, conference calls with other parts of the world at 2am, being “penalized for taking sick or personal time, skyhigh contributions to marginal healthcare perks, then I am lucky.
Please get real 11:48. Perhaps at top executive levels in the private sector get some of the perks you mention, company cars or nice bonuses but most of us do not. People are hurting, not just from a lack of annual increases but from layoffs, downsizing and being underemployed. That’s what happens in the real world where there is no such thing as tenure. Very few in the private sector have defined pension plans and our 401Ks are totally dependent on our own investment acumen. Also, there are lots of eager young graduates who would love your jobs. I hope all you ungrateful complainers are replaced for the next school year.
Dear Rip Van Winkle at 11:48, wake up. It’s 2016, not 1986.
Great news, thanks 11:48. If there is already a teacher shortage, which will only get worse, then REA members who are dissatisfied with their deal in Ridgewood can look elsewhere and our BOE can hire new teachers to replace them.
“Teachers will never get company cars, club memberships, or any other perks that are seen in the private sector.”
Which private sector are we talking about? It appears that this teacher only hangs out with senior management at banks and CEOs, and believes that the the appropriate compensation benchmark for teachers.
also, doesn’t the taxpayer pay for a teacher who wants to continue their education and then go up a step and make more money once they have completed their masters, phd etc? They don’t pay out of their own pockets!