RI high court asked to deny E. Providence teachers' appeal
12:23 PM Tue, Feb 03, 2009 | Permalink
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EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The School Committee today asked the Rhode Island Supreme Court to throw out an appeal by the teachers union that seeks to block a 5 percent cut in salaries, and payroll deductions covering 20 percent of the cost of health-care premiums. The Supreme Court is expected to discuss whether it will take up the case in a conference Thursday. The School Committee unilaterally imposed these measures in January in accordance with state law that prohibits deficit spending "not withstanding any other provision of the general laws to the contrary," according to written arguments filed this morning with the court. The changes went into effect Jan. 5 and were first reflected in the teachers' Jan. 16 paychecks. They include rolling back salaries nearly 5 percent and forcing the teachers to pay 20 percent of the cost of their health insurance coverage. Under their latest contract, which expired Oct. 31, the teachers didn't contribute toward those costs. The East Providence Education Association represents the district's more than 500 teachers. -- with reports from Journal archives 
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They should have to contribute. The rest of us Joe's do, so what makes them so special??!!!
I appreciate and respect what teachers do (and what they have to because parents do not).... But this is just ridiculous....
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If RI courts run true to form, the teachers will win. The teachers union bought the judges favors a long time ago....
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Now the School Committe knows better tan the judges? Let the courts decide....
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All of the employees in our law firm pay half of their healthcare. What seems to be the problem with doing this? These teachers need to stop whining and be fortunate that they have a job to go to each day. I don't know who is worse, the state workers or these teachers. Not everyone gets a raise every year. Sounds to me like a bunch of spoiled kids used to getting it all!! Wake up ~ have you noticed that we in a RECESSION!!
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The issue here is not about healthcare copays. We live in a society of laws. That's why we have courts. There is no slam dunk for the teachers here in the courts, but there are two conflicting laws in play here. RI Labor laws and RI laws about budgets. That's why this issue needs its "day in court".
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The teachers have overplayed their hand this time. We have 10+% unemployment in this state, and they are whining about a 5% pay cut? Be happy that you have jobs at all! If you aren't happy with your job, then quit. That's what normal, non-entitled people do.
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The state is going to receive millions of dollars from the govt. If that's the case...why then are they going to continue to cut their pay when now they don't have to do so as a result of the govt. now giving them the money they no longer had...
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In negotiations, the teachers agreed to pay health care costs equal or more than their city counterparts. The school committee did not accept it because they want them to pay 20%.
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The issue is not health care. The issue is the fact that the School Committee pulled a cheap & dirty trick. There is a reason why contracts are negotiated--so that both unions & management can agree. I am also a teacher and I work in a RI district where we pay 20% in our copay. Believe me, I know I receive great benefits which give me a strong sense of security, but it's because we voted on this--not because the rug was pulled out from underneath us. The issue here is doing things legitimately. While some EP teachers have expressed their dissatisfaction inappropriately, it is certainly understandable. Be understanding of someone's sudden amazement and shock that he/she woke up to this news. This choice should have been reached in the manner in which the laws define--through collective bargaining--not through a school board pulling a fast one while school was on recess for the winter break.
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Hey Donna Marsocci, you work in a law firm, right? How does 'whining' fit in a legal argument in the courts? Do you use that in your closing arguments in a legal case? "These teachers should quit 'whining' and be grateful they have a job AT ANY PAY! They're just like those greedy state workers, Your Honor! Forget about the law or anything SILLY like that! We should panic and throw all those laws out that protect workers from their law-breaking bosses!"
You don't sound like someone I would ever hire, and yours is a name that I certainly will avoid should I ever need legal representation. You've just revealed your lack of integrity.
But then again, you ARE a lawyer.
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Here's a good read from this newspaper!
http://www.projo.com/opinion/contributors/content/CT_reich2_02-02-09_I2D3VIJ_v10.4000c3e.html
Stay strong, unions!
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When a teacher goes on strike and eventually wins, the strike days are added on to the end of the year. No pay damage and they got the raise, due to complaining parents. If any other worker goes on strike, there is no way to add on the days at the end of the year, so they get a pay cut equal to the days on strike. It is very difficult to fire a teacher.
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Hey Donna Marsocci, now tell us how much the lawyers and staff in your law firm make for a yearly salary.
Probably a whole lot more than any school teacher and most public empmloyees do.
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