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Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2006 > August > 30 > Entry
Huber strike — It’s not looking good
I just left the offices of the State Employment Relations Board where negotiators for Huber Heights teachers and staff and the school board are in marathon talks.
Well, sort of.
Talks would imply two sides talking to each other. I spent most of the day watching them huddle in separate conference rooms. Mediators did go back and forth, but not nearly as often as you’d expect if a settlement were near.
If I had to lay a bet on the outcome right now, I’d say they will not make a deal tonight and will end up before the SERB board tomorrow for a hearing on the school board’s complaint that the union did not follow required procedures before going on the picket lines. I hope I am wrong.
On the other hand, even some progress from these talks is better than no talks at all, which is where we’ve been since the strike began Friday.
Laura Bischoff, one of the paper’s Columbus bureau reporters, is going to keep watch on the talks the rest of the night. Keep an eye on DDN.com for any updates and I’ll try to post more here if there’s any news. So check back.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Categories: Schools and Politics
Comments
By Oldprof
August 31, 2006 9:24 PM | Link to this
Legislators are also taxpayers, but I don’t see them settling for a puny salary increase, a spotty expensive insurance benefit, or a measly pension. The teachers don’t pay social security, true—but they contribute significant dollars to the state pension fund in its place. If you want to get education on the cheap, fine—then quit complaining, you are getting what you pay for.By Mary
August 31, 2006 12:22 PM | Link to this
“Old Prof”, teachers are also taxpayers (although I do not think they pay social security like most of the rest of us). However, you must admit, through salary and benefits, they consume many more taxes than they pay and get special tax write-offs, including some classroom expenses that are mentioned from time to time as coming out of their pocket. Similar issues relate to any public employee. My entire retirement check comes from federal taxes, but I still believe the tax burden should be taken seriously and frugally.By Oldprof
August 31, 2006 9:31 AM | Link to this
DDN’s editorial page insisted that Wayne faculty need to “understand taxpayers.” But here’s the thing—Wayne’s faculty ARE taxpayers. Now, do the taxpayers understand the teachers? the administration? the state funding formula and laws (including the unconstitutional ones)? As Wayner here demonstrates, no, they don’t—and THAT’S why we keep having these financial problems in education. Wayner—WORK TO DEFEAT THE CURRENT LEGISLATURE! Elect some people who will clean up at the top, if we can.By Wayner
August 30, 2006 4:54 PM | Link to this
Do you (or does anyone) have a sense of how legit the Board’s unfair allegations are? Is this just blowing smoke or does it have some legal basis? How could the union’s lawyers not cross all the T’s and dot the I’s?