Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Bravo! The breaking of teachers unions must start somewhere.

Ah, those back door union busting tactics do work. Take away the union and things all of sudden become alot more affordable. I'll be the kids won't know the difference.

Why do you need a union to work at Head Start? Or anywhere else for that matter. Do a good/above average/excellnt job and make yourself valuable to an organization and you will rewarded with raises and promotions. Sit on your duff and pay union dues and you will languish!

If the current workers were efficient and productive enough their company wouldn't have lost the bid for these services. I'm sorry to see anyone lose their job but governments issue competetive bids for a reason.

Children's Friend should be ashamed of themselves. These people have committed themselves to the children at Head Start for years, and now they are thrown to the streets? What is wrong with our society that we allow people to be treated so poorly?

Should the union be involved in Head Start? You cannot compare this union to a teacher's union. RI public school teachers must have atleast a Bachelor's degree in addition to state certification. If we want a Head Start program that is effective, hire qualified people. I don't understand how anybody could argue against that.

Creditability, honesty, maintaining a good reputation are just a few of the qualietes many unions and thier representatives have. If the local 1199 hierarchy knew of the low down dirty tactics and lies being put forth by their representive named Chas, I feel strongly they would make him stop and possibly fire him! The truth of this situation is the Community Development Institute (CDI) employees, not Providence Head Start (PHS),(PHS was taken over by CDI 10-07); DO NOT BELONG TO ANY UNION. Yes it is true, the employees rallied around Local 1199 at the time of the take over by CDI. The Local did not save their jobs from this take over. The employees of CDI do not have a CONTRACT or even pay union dues! CDI did the same thing Children's Friend and Services (CFS) is doing by having all of the employees re-apply. There are so many qualified, certified, employees who work for CDI that will not have a problem getting hired by any other organization due to the superior work and dedication they have for the children and families for which they serve. But, as in all organizations, there are those who feel they do not have to keep up with thier certifications even if these classes are given to them for FREE! One would think, based on the last take over, the employees would not put themselves in a postion of not having their certifications; but the lazy, do nothing, I don't have to get certification employees, deserve not to get re-hired. Stop blaming those employees of CDI who take pride in their work and have dedicated thier lives to this profession. Lastly, to Chas the Local 1199 Union Representive, shame on you for bullying parents and scaring children at the day care centers. Oh yeah, Chas stay off of CDI property!!!

General Assembly leaders paved the way Wednesday for the July payment of 2.5 percent raises to all of their staffers while Head Staff people get layoff notices. Honor among thieves...

Chris from Woonsocket: How are the two related?