By Kate

March 3, 2011 7:30 AM | Link to this

@Scott If you think this generation will take care of us when feeble,think again. They are a selfish bunch of neurotic teachers who only take from society. Don’t expect a thing from this grabby group so as not to become disappointed in your old age. You will receive nothing compared to what we gave them.

By Kate

March 3, 2011 7:30 AM | Link to this

@Scott If you think this generation will take care of us when feeble,think again. They are a selfish bunch of neurotic teachers who only take from society. Don’t expect a thing from this grabby group so as not to become disappointed in your old age. You will receive nothing compared to what we gave them.

By Bruce

March 3, 2011 6:44 AM | Link to this

We have heard about the Ohio’s 8 billion dollar budget problem. Where is the number on how much this change will save. The omitted fact about “Government employee workers” is they are tax payers too. They have made concessions repeatedly. Checking a website for Governor’s pay, I found that Ohio’s Governor is in the top 10 HIGHEST paid from across the country at roughly $144,000. How much is he giving back, but wait I believe he has already secured his pension from his Government tenure.

By Scott

February 28, 2011 8:58 AM | Link to this

I don’t work for a union, and I am a college dropout. My annual income is more than my wife (who is an elementary school teacher with a Master’s degree), and my benefits- while more costly, are more efficient. I don’t believe in Tenure, because it makes it very difficult to weed out the bad workers. Ok, to my point: There are a lot of kids in this area who are victims of circumstance. They aren’t held as babies, they suffer IAS, they grow up in dysfunctional families and in horrible neighborhoods. Ohio prisons calculate beds by looking at 4th grade reading achievement. This is a really good reason NOT to erode the quality of life of GOOD TEACHERS. Whatever your reasoning might be for busting a union, or blaming Teachers for dipping too deeply into your pockets, everyone should consider the fact that when you become feeble this generation is going to be taking care of YOU.

By Mike R

February 27, 2011 11:46 PM | Link to this

Fired Up Teacher: The correct grammar is “Doesn’t.” In the following two sentences you used “don’t” inappropriately: “You can’t have an individual determining pay based on an opinion of a committee or person that don’t know what is going on in the classroom. I can teach the ohio standardized test and have them all pass that test at that time but that don’t mean the kids have learned anything.” In the later sentence you used word fillers of “at that time” and should have used the proper punctuation by inserting a comma (,) before “but.” If you do go on strike I’ll look for you on TV. It’s beginning to look like you’ll be one of the many teachers carrying a sign written with poor grammar. Oh, by the way, the names of all states are also capitalizied, including Ohio!

By Paul

February 27, 2011 10:56 PM | Link to this

Its not about politics. Its about the TAXPAYERS. Why should taxpayers pay for public employees to get “special treatment”? Tenure, collective bargaining, salary+ benefits+pension package that Most Middle Class Taxpayers don’t have. And our schools keep getting worse and worse in the meantime. Time for Real “change”.

By Fired up teacher

February 27, 2011 4:14 PM | Link to this

Let them do away with bargaining. We will go back to the day when there are illegal strikes and then we will have a showdown with the gov’t. We will beat the gov’t on the picket line. You can’t have an individual determining pay based on an opinion of a committee or person that don’t know what is going on in the classroom. I can teach the ohio standardized test and have them all pass that test at that time but that don’t mean the kids have learned anything. There will be strike after strike or the commmunities that pay less will have lesser teachers. I guess the state will have to lower the test standards to get some districts passing the tests. You people are clueless.

By Tracy

February 27, 2011 12:02 PM | Link to this

Gov Kasich is not worried about the state budget deficit. He intends on impoverishing middle class Ohio. Corporations own your legislators. Democracy is over. When the middle class lose more income who will be paying taxes? Think about it!

By bob

February 26, 2011 2:19 PM | Link to this

Well Paul,”most Americans” [ and I’m sure you speak for all ??? ] have NEVER worked in a union shop.The only thing “most Americans” know about unions is what they see or hear through filtered sources—or in the case of Faux News—outward biased.Teachers aren’t even allowed to TEACH the FACTS about unions in schools.How’s that for a stacked deck ? [ but CEO’s will name eachother to their respective corporate boards ]

By Paul

February 25, 2011 5:39 PM | Link to this

Most middle-class workers are Non-union. Democrats, being in bed with the unions the way they are—- are on the wrong side of this fight, I’m afraid. Most workers view unions as non-productive, time-consuming, expensive, greedy, uneducated., PARASITES!

By Leslie

February 25, 2011 3:44 PM | Link to this

American workforce (quoting US Labor stats 6.9% of private workers, and just over 32% of public employees are in unions). 88% of working people are not in a union and may have concerns about being bullied by a very vocal minority.

By dMatthews

February 25, 2011 12:20 PM | Link to this

Jack, Although public school teachers’ contracts only require around 185 workdays a year. Teachers aren’t “screwing off” for 8 hours or reading books on the job. If you’ve ever thrown a birthday party for your kid or hosted a sleepover, just use that as a vehicle to imagine managing children being your daily responsibility - except that your kid has 15-35 friends and the daily activity isn’t watching movies or playing games, it learning math or grammar. Also, you are running the show solo. Today’s, students and parents are demanding more of teachers than ever before. We are expected to be entertaining, accomodating, teach manners and character in addition to content, and get ALL childred prepared for college. That’s no short order. Also, if your home is worth $120k, you have the quality of your schools to thank for it. If your local schools were poorly performing, it would be worth substantially less. I’m guessing from your property tax rate that your schools are rated “effective” or “excellent”. Home values are rather symbiotically dependent on property tax values and community ammenities. You get what you pay for. In case you couldn’t tell, I am a teacher. I’d also like to mention that my position wasn’t handed to me. I earned it on my own merits, character, and achievements. I’m sorry if you are falling on hard times. We all are. My student loan payments are killing me. They are probably more than your property taxes. I’m not complaining, just illustrating that we all pick our own path and must live with the consequences of our choices.

By Jack

February 25, 2011 8:34 AM | Link to this

I am a union member in a state office. The union is horrible. There is no accountability! People screw off 8 hours a day, come in at 10:00am, leave at 2:30pm, read books on the job, etc. etc. Teachers unions are out of control. Their unions run the schools. They work 2/3 of the year (part-time)and make much more than those in the private sector with an education degree. And for a $120,000 house I pay $3,000 a year in property taxes. Just go to the “Buckeye Institute’s” web page and look up teacher salaries. They make $70k, $80k and more for part-time work. It’s time to break the union’s death grip on our taxes! Go Kasich!

By Hard working Joe

February 24, 2011 10:41 PM | Link to this

Just wanted to let you know that I am a union member of a private business. I make 25/hr and pay out about 75/month in union dues. For my 900.00/yr in union dues that I pay I figure I am making about 12,000 dollars more per year than a similar non-union employee doing what I do for a living. So my 900/year is paying my union to make sure that my company pays me my 25/hr and my so called 2000 dollar high deductible med insurance plan. If I did not have that 900/yr coming out of my check to the union I don’t believe I would have the power to make this multi-national company pay me the salary I deserve or what I have in the form of benefits. They would just go ahead and hire some one for 19/hr and pocket the profits. Don’t make no mistake Kasich will be after the non-gov’t unions next in the form of Right To Work.

By Patrick

February 24, 2011 9:58 AM | Link to this

The real problem id funding of schools. The Ohio Supreme Court has declared funding unconstitutional, yet this state has done nothing to correct the problem, thus putting the burden of school funding on ALL of our backs. as the economy has declined as has our wages, people our refusing to pass school levies, and blaming the problem on government employees. IT is a government employee problem, those in the statehouse for refusing to correct the problem. By the way, I am a teacher, in the pass five years, our union has agreed to TWO pay freezes, and in an effort to save money, we agreed to changing our health insurnance to a HSA account to save the district money. So please, don’t portray all of us as the devil.

By Nancy

February 23, 2011 6:17 PM | Link to this

I am tired of the whining on both sides. If you have not walked a mile in my shoes you have NO RIGHT to say that my job is fat and cushy. However, it seems that everyone wants to be on a rush to the bottom. The only way to counter balance the power of money is by the power of unity.

By Mike R

February 23, 2011 3:49 PM | Link to this

Think about that for a moment, fellow tax payer. If you’re enrolled in a high deductable plan, which is needed to have a HSA, you’re going to pay no matter what. Ask yourself a fundamental question. Is it better to pay those medical bills pre-tax or post-tax??

By fellow tax payer

February 23, 2011 3:33 PM | Link to this

mike, fyi, have major medical issues in any given year ? and watch that HSA account dwindle in a months time, no savings there when medical costs are so high as well as Rx costs. Insurance does not cover a thing until you use all the HSA and then pay more out of pocket before insurance pays.

By blue collar job person

February 23, 2011 3:27 PM | Link to this

Yeah for Gene Branstool, what a great guy, bet he won’t call anyone an idiot

By Mike R

February 23, 2011 3:18 PM | Link to this

get real, there’s a HUGE difference between “establishing” a program and “mandating” enrollment into such programs. I think you’re confused on what your union deductions were/are. A HSA is YOUR Account. It is YOUR money. A HSA is a TRUE SAVINGS account—the money rolls over from one year to the next. After age 65 you can withdrawl those funds, but will have to pay your taxes based on your current income bracket. All earnings prior to that are tax deffered. Sounds to me you’re bitching ‘cause you have a savings account…

By Perspective

February 23, 2011 3:14 PM | Link to this

@get real Actually, “you THINK someone else has it better than you so, screw them right? “, is the Democrats line.You remember don’t you? Tax all those evil rich.We have to make sure the wealth is distributed more evenly. Even your good friend Obama believes it but you can bet he doesn’t want all that much of his money redistributed.

By get real

February 23, 2011 3:04 PM | Link to this

yea, I’m lying. of course health coverage is voted upon, but it’s dictated by the employer, presented by the employer. the union has no say about the plan itself, especially if the employer says “this is all we can afford for coverage” and by the way, lose a few employees cause we don’t have the budget. I’m done with you bitter fools. and again, I pay the same taxes you do. but you can single me out and take what you want and call me names because I tell it like it is. You people are the whiners. you THINK someone else has it better than you so, screw them right?

By Perspective

February 23, 2011 2:45 PM | Link to this

@get real I think you’re lying about things. If you were a union member your healthcare package would be part of your negotiated contract and agreed to by both your union and employer,not dictated by your employer.

By quencilla

February 23, 2011 2:42 PM | Link to this

excuse me private sector persons, if someone has to pay 600.00 a year for parking because they work in the city for example, (my husband) than don’t you feel lucky your employer has it’s own parking lot for you? Really people, a job is a job, we are all tax payers, even union folks, thank goodness for ALL workers. and I didn’t hear Get Real complaining, rather depicting that life is not always greener, and cushier. I don’t really know any rich union workers.

By get real

February 23, 2011 2:33 PM | Link to this

HSAs were established as part of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 8, 2003. They were developed to replace the Medical Savings Account system. My union didn’t dictate my health coverage, my EMPLOYER did

By Mike R

February 23, 2011 1:06 PM | Link to this

get real, HSA’s were great. They were NOT mandated by President Bush or anyone in government. It was just another tool to help the working folk. Now, maybe your union mandated you participate?? Under ObamaCare HSA’s and Flexible spending accounts (FSA) are practically worthless. Which is a shame. Yes, medical and prescription drug costs have gone up, but shouldn’t people still be able to pay their co-pays and medicine costs with pre-tax money?? By the way, just so you know, there are many private sector employees that work extensively with the public. I have never heard one complain they have to pay for parking! They do their job ‘cause they want to help people…

By Navin Johnson

February 23, 2011 11:55 AM | Link to this

Get real. You seem to be your own biggest problem. You chose to assume things, and you use those assumptions to rationalize and justify any preconceived notions you may have or slights you may beleive you have felt. You find the most convienent answer, wrap yourself around it and run with it. You have no clue about me. I am a former union worker, who has also worked on the management side. I am non-union government employee who actually DOES deal with the public on a daily basis. Where do you get these assumptions???? My point was, and your response strengthens the point, but I’ll repeat it again, because you seem to have trouble seeing things thru anyone elses eyes but yours. You also assume I am bitter (I guess because I’m not in lockstep agreement with you), and again you accuse me of being partisian, while your posts scream partisian. You are the one that seems bitter. You are the one who complains about having to actually pay your parking, paying for a portion of your health care, Kasich, Bush, everyone and everything but your union. You are a clown.

By get real

February 23, 2011 10:56 AM | Link to this

navin, switch jobs with me, we are all in the same boat except I deal with the public and you don’t. I’m not whining like everyone else here, just sharing the FACTS. You are the one who is angry, I’m just glad to have a job been dedicated to for 17 years. It’s clear Kasich has no idea how to stimulate the state economy and jobs. That’s the real issue. Attack my job because others don’t have one. I pay taxes like everyone else, there are no exceptions from hardship in a union job. Your comments indicate that you are clearly bitter about something and your post only proves that the comments here are partisan driven. Thank you!

By Concerned Citizen

February 23, 2011 10:17 AM | Link to this

This bill is about allowing collective bargaining. The state has every ability to negotiate good contracts under the current system, and the unionized workers can protect their rights. Why is this a bad thing? If the management of the state and the reps of the union negotiate bad contracts, then just like in the private world, both will suffer. If the contracts are too expensive, then the state suffers with high costs and deficits. If the contracts don’t reward employees appropriately, they will move to private sector jobs and only the deadbeats who can’t work elsewhere will be in state jobs. If the state doesn’t like the shape of the current contracts, then the next contract will have new terms. This is the USA and having the ability to bargain collectively is about as sacred as the first amendment. I just don’t get how anyone who is a supporter of American values can think this bill is productive.

By Navin Johnson

February 23, 2011 9:47 AM | Link to this

Get Real, funny you talk about partisan motivation, then proceed to assume that private sector employees are just sitting “in their cubicles” reaping the benefits of their fat cushy jobs. The private sector have been for years now the ones to forgo raises, pay more for their insurance, retirement, (if you have one) 401 k matches have disappeared, cuts in hours and pay, given up raises, ect and I could go on. Private sector have made sacrafices concessions, and you have too, to an extent, but no where near the private sector. Instead of demogoging the private sector, you should direct your scorn exactly where it belongs. The Unions and Liberal democrats who have been in bed together for decades. Why do you accept concessions bargained on your behalf by a union that accepts your dues, gives more and more and more $$ each election cycle to the Democratic political machine, Big salaried union bosses, payoffs Ect. And you want to whine because you have to pay your own parking. What you fail to understand is The private sector is tired of your union, me first screw everything non-union, but when the unions feel the pinch, you want the private sector to support your position. You are not special just because your work in the public sector. You should know that you have already lost the argument, wouldn’t you agree that’s why the Dems are fleeing the votes. The rule of law seems to be thrown out the window when unions feel they are getting everything they want. Whether you want to face it or not, you’ve done this to yourselves, and as long as you have benefitted from irresponsible politicians and questionable Union tactics, its OK. Do you think that may be why you are in the position you now find yourself?

By get real

February 23, 2011 9:11 AM | Link to this

problem i read with these posts is they are partisan motivated which blinds people to what the real facts and issues are. I’ve been in my public service job a long time. I make less now than I did three years ago. I have to take furlough days i.e. no pay, I have to pay more in insurance premiums, and the HSA account I’m given (mandated by Bush) is a joke because medical and Rx costs have skyrocketed. My co-workers are being laid off by seniority. We have negotiated and made concessions while the people charged with the budgets do their thing. I pay 600.00 a year to park for my job because there is no where else to park. How is this a cushey, fat job? Did I mention I serve the public - that means dealing with folks who are not always happy to be in the situation they are in? Can you say miss-directed angry folks? Not the same kinda “client” you might encounter in your private sector cubicle.

By Public Employee

February 23, 2011 8:47 AM | Link to this

As a public employee (Deputy Sheriff) I know we as a group have given up pay raises, step increases and cost of living raises to help off-set the budget. We have also seen our health insurance premiums go up, and we aren’t asking for a raise. It is sad to see ALL public employee’s being slumped into the same category. Not ALL of the public employee unions are being difficult. As far as the teacher unions…time for some real change..as a Springboro resident I can tell you I will continue to vote NO until the school hires an accountant and shows the facts. I have no problem with pay to play, limited bus routes, and as far as supplies (parents buy them anyway).

By Navin Johnson

February 23, 2011 8:37 AM | Link to this

Did anyone notice that Footstool’s bill passed 17-16 along party lines. The Repubs. knew they didn’t have the #’s to win, but they stayed, did their job and voted. They didn’t flee the state, bring in outside career extortionists and thugs, or engage in intimidation. Less rights? than whom?

By Perspective

February 23, 2011 7:40 AM | Link to this

You know what? I say forget it. Take SB5 off the table and let the layoffs begin. Maybe some of the union people will change their mind about SB5 when they have to pay 100% of their healthcare and are living off unemployment.

By Brown

February 23, 2011 7:05 AM | Link to this

Teachers have taken pay cuts and already make less than most people with the same education. I would like to know why people feel that it is ok to deduct 10 - 20% from public employees salaries (people who make less than 100K per year) but call it class warfare to suggest adding 2 or 3% to the tax burden of people making 400K per year. I think that the class warfare is being waged against the middle class by the wealthy.

By Cuz

February 23, 2011 7:04 AM | Link to this

It’s my guess that even if SB 5 passes and is enacted, folks will still “beat feet” to get one of “them good gummint” jobs.

By Bim Roselli

February 23, 2011 6:27 AM | Link to this

I don’t understand why teachers think they should keep getting raises when the rest of us out here are not! We have lost rights like crazy with the open border and the Mexicans all coming over like cattle, the Mulims coming with their Islam and imam foolishness that harbors terrorists within, we are losing rights to voice our opinions in the opinion sections because of that net neutrality liberal thing. We all are losing something. So, yes, the unions need to go so they can stop robbing the tax payers!

By Kaz Jarbo

February 23, 2011 6:17 AM | Link to this

From what I have observed the unions have much corruption in them. I am for getting them off state’s back. They also support the liberal agenda which I am against. I feel so sorry for Chicago getting that Rahm Emanuel for Mayor. It is a sneak plan for him for future politics.

By xxx

February 23, 2011 2:05 AM | Link to this

He will create jobs,once he privitizes all the public services,and his rich wall street buddies get the contracts.

By Danny

February 22, 2011 10:49 PM | Link to this

My wages and some benifits were based on what our “union shops” made,to prevent us from “VOTING”in a “Union”.WHO will be there if and when the “Unions” are dispanded? The answer is me,and the new “Union” we “VOTE” in to help stop the attack of the “WORKING CLASS” in this “Great Nation”called AMERICA.

By Mike R

February 22, 2011 10:25 PM | Link to this

MORT: CalPERS, the nation’s largest public pension fund, at nearly $230 BILLION in assets, gets a proxy vote every year. If the union money managers hated the private business as much as you they could have changed how business is conducted—they have chose not to.

By Mike R

February 22, 2011 10:16 PM | Link to this

Branstool should shorten his name to just Tool. ‘Cause that’s what he is—A tool for the Democrats. He’s partly to blame for getting us into this mess. Look at the University of Chicago and Northwestern Economists findings. Ohio’s pension and medical liabilites put us in a terrible situation—Thanks to ‘tool. By the way, Philman is correct. Once Senate Bill 5 is passed Ohio’s public workers won’t have any less rights than private workers. Why do Tool and others believe they are a superior class??

By MORT

February 22, 2011 10:00 PM | Link to this

Philman=The most well monied powerful union in America is comprised of greedy Wall Street wizards and CEO thugs who don’t want to cut business tax abatement and golden parachutes for incompetent performance.You may have heard of it-the Chamber of Commerce!

By What do we want?...

February 22, 2011 9:15 PM | Link to this

Philman, you don’t know what you are talking about. (1) The idiot story was national (not local) news just a few days ago. (2) The “major cause” of our deficit situation is the current recssion (you may have heard about it). People have less income and pay lower taxes. State leaders trying to be business friendly are luring companies (rightly or wrongly) with low tax rates…so less income there. (3) For the past three years, the only actions my union has taken in terms of wages and benefits has been to negotiate cuts…like unions throughout the state.

By jimmie

February 22, 2011 8:02 PM | Link to this

@common_cents - I am quite aware that the Kettering superintendent is not part of a bargaining unit. However, he most likely is an OEA member - pretty close to a union. The analogy I was making had to do with public employees - including school district management - sucking blood off the taxpayer. Time to rein in the excess. Hopefully you won’t now be quite so lost.

By Philman

February 22, 2011 7:51 PM | Link to this

Dont count on the DDN to give you an Honest account of this battle, just read the above article( Kasich calls cop idiot) this story is 3 years old the DDn is desperate to win back the the democrats seats next election, as for the clown that wrote the collective bargining bill just what does he mean that state workers will have LESS Rights, less than who? ME I’m nonunion, I work hard and do my job so my boss will keep me on the payroll,REAL SIMPLE, folks we are going broke and the MAJOR CAUSE IS Democrat protected Union Thugs Raising the Pay & benifits higher than the working people whos tax dollars pay the bills can afford, who wants to pay more than Half their paycheck to keep up this NOSENSE???

By Common_Cents

February 22, 2011 7:38 PM | Link to this

Jimmie, you’ve lost me. The superintendent is not a member of any union. Seems you’ve misdirected your anger. Maybe you should be supporting the unions, which try to balance the power, and instead direct your anger at those in management who consistently abuse the system

By jimmie

February 22, 2011 7:31 PM | Link to this

The gov is right on. These union folks need to get a dose of the real world - instead of the fantasy land they currently live in. Kind of like that superintendent in Kettering who is double dipping and sticking it to the taxpayer.

By Jones

February 22, 2011 6:07 PM | Link to this

SB 5 is a waste of time. Once a Democrat majority is elected, which at this rate will be the next elections, the union is going right back in. I thought the Governor was all about jobs. Seems like all he is doing so far is destroying unions, going after prescription drug abuses, and disparaging police officers by calling them names. Where are the JOBS?