Posted by Jeremy Shulkin
The Educational Association of Worcester (better known as the teachers union) had an unopposed voice vote of no confidence in the school committee, Mayor Joe O’Brien and Superintendent Melinda Boone Thursday night. The Telegram posted the story online only a couple of hours ago, while the 508 Podcast actually broke the news this morning.
From the T&G:
The motion did not give a reason for the vote, but a press release from the union includes a list of complaints: teachers feel the administration “is not in touch” with the challenges teachers face in the classroom; teachers feel “unsupported and disrespected” despite the fact that they spend thousands of dollars of their own money on school items, including on food and clothing for their students; teachers feel they are not treated as professionals and are seldom asked for their opinion on what would improve the educational atmosphere; teachers are not reimbursed for college courses they take even though the state requires them to have a master’s degree; teachers have been working without a contract since fall 2009; they haven’t had a cost-of-living increase since 2008 (although newer teachers receive step increases as outlined in the contract); and for two-thirds of members, the administration’s offer of mitigation money to offset cuts in insurance benefits (such as requiring all teachers to pay 25 percent of their insurance costs instead of just 20 percent) would still amount to a cut in pay.
There are a lot of rumors swirling around this vote as well, which we’ll try and post tomorrow once people become reachable.
Daily Worcesteria 
Teachers do spend thousands of dollars of their own money on school items, including food and clothing for their students, are seldom asked for their opinion on what would improve the educational atmosphere and are not reimbursed for college courses they take even though the state requires them to have a master’s degree.
I know that because my wife was a teacher in the Worcester School System. If the administration doesn’t know that then, they are not only out of touch, they don’t know how to do their jobs. Which incidentally, seems to be the way it is in just about all industries, private or public, in our entire country these days.
And another incidentally. During “normal times” how come private sector employees with a masters degree make more than a public school teacher with a masters degree? Not to mention the fact that those private sector employees wouldn’t be in a union.
Is there any profession in America that feels that “management” is in touch with what they do or supports them? The fact of the matter is that the loudest and most vocal members of the electorate are anti-tax and anti-government spending. Next month the Tea Party group will have their yearly anti-tax rally. Where will the pro-school spending rally be?