I agree with the above. System has to be changed. No more using the last few years of highest earnings to determine pension payout – should be average of working years. No more pensions for part timers. If taxes are raised any more, anyone who is able to move will even if they wanted to stay. No more platinum health care unless the workers pay more for it if they choose. Don’t get me started on teachers … most believe they are a special class of worker and have the hardest jobs in the world. No, not an easy job but I am not seeing the dedication in the profession that I remember seeing in teachers I had as a child. I stand with our BOE and draw the line for providing benefits better than the private sector offers.
Just got an update from my financial advisor saying my wife and I need to save $366,000 for health care insurance in retirement because Medicare will only cover 51% of total costs after 65. Long-term care costs can run up to $1,680 A WEEK. And 45% of retirees are expected to pay more than 20% of their income on health care by 2040. Yet teachers, cops and firefighters just expect taxpayers to subsidize their “platinum” health benefits year after year, including those who take “special” early retirements as early as their 40s. It’s sickening, and we can’t afford to be paying for better health plan benefits for public sector workers than we get ourselves. Christie and the Ridgewoid BOE are fighting for taxpayers – we must support them against the lies and misinformation being spread by the REA and the full-time Union lawyers and lobbyists behind them from the NJEA. Support our students, support Ridgewood taxpayers, and support the BOE
*** Settle Now ***
Teachers should accept the BOEs terms
*** SETTLE NOW ***
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DO IT FER DA KIDZ…
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Time for teachers to come into the real world, there are no more free rides.
Why do teachers deserve better health plan benefits than the tax paying Villagers of Ridgewood who help subsidize their coverage, in addition to paying their salaries, accumulated leave, and contributing towards their defined benefit pensions – which the average TPAF retiree starts collecting at age 62? Why?
The teachers pictured above look old and tired. Time to replace them with new blood.
Typical greedy union members
What part timers get pensions?
10:38 BOE has not made an offer.. on the contrary;
The Ridgewood Board of Education has refused to meet with the new state appointed Super Conciliator assigned to mediate the contract impasse.
The REA and BOE were recently assigned a state appointed Super Conciliator. This past Tuesday he offered three available dates of June 21, June 23, and June 27. The REA quickly informed the Super Conciliator and the BOE that they would make themselves available all three dates.
On Thursday, the BOE’s attorney sent an email to the Super Conciliator requesting dates after July 6 due an upcoming meeting of the SEHBP Commission where 2017 premium rate increases will be discussed. They also “heard” that the elimination of Direct 10 is an anticipated topic of discussion for the same meeting. They feel that both issues are key to resolving the current impasse.
#1. The commission doesn’t have the ability to eliminate a plan. That is done by the SEHBP design team which is not meeting until the Fall. Is it the Board’s intention to keep delaying negotiating until after the start of the new school year?
#2. Rates discussed will be recommendations and probably will not be adopted until another meeting later in the summer or closer to the Fall. Those are the rates which would be implemented on January 1, 2017.
REMINDER: The Fact Finder’s report had no change in healthcare plan and took into consideration the BOE’s projected premium increases which they budgeted at 10%. The Fact Finder’s report proved they could keep status quo health plan and settle this contract while balancing their budget under the 2% cap – without any additional increase in taxes. This upcoming meeting has no bearing on the Fact Finder’s recommendations which is the basis of the next round of mediation
#4. Delaying the process creates concern for finding availability of dates from the Super Conciliator that will work when trying to coordinate vacation and summer work schedules.
The BOE informed the public at their last meeting that they were willing to meet anytime with the REA to work towards settling this contract. Apparently that simply was not true. There is now an opportunity to meet with the new state appointed mediator as early as next week. Their refusal to meet is further indication of their lack of desire to settle a contract.
GUESS YOU GOT THE MESSAGE ON THE JERSEY SHORE FOR NEXT PAYED 8 weeks
if teachers don’t accept 15$ copay, then no settlement.
Lets do a referendum on that.
8:30 …. Nice thought….unfortunately incorrect ….. Teachers don’t get paid for summer….contract runs 9/1 – 6/30…, no paycheck during July or August. As for me, I work summer school so no vacation time as yet.
8:10 obviously doesn’t understand what is being discussed – keeping the status quo “platinum” health plan and settling this contract without any additional increase in taxes is fantasy. Just because there is a 2% cap on annual property tax increases does not mean we need to raise taxes by 2% a year. What about the proposed Fairness Formula which should actually lead to property tax reductions in Ridgewood? Does the Fact Finder’s report consider that? What about the 40% excise tax on “platinum” health plan benefits like those offered to our teachers and administrators from 2020, does the Fact Finder propose who will bear that cost? Lastly, where are alternative proposals to downgrade REA members to equivalent benefits in the private sector like “bronze” level health benefits, “use it or lose it” sick leave, and defined contribution pension plans? Where are those proposals?
11:06, I do understand what is being discussed, however, my comment was directed to 10:38 and not the topic which few in this post are commenting on.
Brilliant 10:01, lets get Lorraine, Anne, Dana and Marcia on the case… “if teachers don’t accept 15$ Health care visit copay, then no settlement. Lets do a referendum on that.”
Zillow tells me my property value just dropped 4% in past 30 days… BOE portion of our property tax bill is out of control. $102 million annual budget for a declining school system with teachers living in a fantasyland. #Enoughisenough, #Taxedtodeath
They seem Dug in..might be worth the referendum route,Seems to get folks attention ..on serious issues ..Towns Costs are out of control and unsustainable by any measure.
I like the idea of a referendum on the teachers contract, so long as it’s binding. We had great teachers and administrators who built up the reputation of Ridgewood schools. The current bunch? Meh. They seem to care more about their health benefits than our kids. If you witnessed their behavior this past school year you’d agree they’ve done nothing to carry on the “tradition of excellence”. More like “riding on the coat-tails of the reputation built by the predecessors.” They are trying to bully us with the backing of NJEA lawyers and lobbyists. We need to support our BOE and students, if only they elicited the same grassroots support that the we’ve seen opposing the most recent garage proposal and Valley!