Hot Topic (9/1): Should public school teachers go on strike?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

 

From KentReporter.com:  

By BRIAN BECKLEY
Kent Reporter General assignment reporter  

Of all the issues surrounding the Kent Education Association's decision to strike, the biggest question revolves around the issue of the strike's legality.

Washington courts and the Attorney General's office have repeatedly ruled that teacher strikes, like any public-employee strike in Washington State, are illegal.

The KEA disagrees, however.

The most recent examples regarding strike legality include a 2003 injunction written by Judge Linda C. Krese for the Superior Court of the State of Washington for Snohomish County regarding the 2003 Marysville strike.

"Public employee strikes are illegal under the common law of Washington," she wrote in the "conclusions of law" section of the document. "The (Marysville Education Association) strike violates the prohibition on public-employee strikes and is an illegal strike."

The injunction then ordered teachers back to work.

In 2006 Attorney General Rob McKenna also offered an opinion on teacher strikes, concurring that public employees, including teachers, do not have the right to strike in Washington State.

McKenna's opinion cited RCW 41.56.120, which states, "Nothing contained in this chapter shall permit or grant any public employee the right to strike or refuse to perform his official duties."

The law also states in RCW 41.56.025 "This chapter applies to the bargaining unit of classified employees of school districts..."

McKenna's opinion, however, also stated that there are no penalties for public employees to strike, although the Legislature could pass them if they so choose.

Generally speaking, no penalties have been levied against teachers who have gone on strike, though some, like Marysville in 2003, have been ordered back to work by the courts.

The KEA disputes the findings that teacher strikes are illegal.

KEA spokesperson Dale Folkerts said Thursday that because there is no specific prohibition of strikes by teachers, as there are for firefighters and police, it is therefore not illegal for teachers to strike.

"There's no section of law that says teacher strikes are illegal," he said, adding that civil rulings in cases are different than state law.

Folkerts also said the Legislature has repeatedly declined to pass a specific law making teacher strikes illegal.

When asked about legal options, District Spokesperson Beck Hanks said the district would "look at all options."

* * *

Should teachers, as public-employees, should be allowed to strike?

What do you think about striking teachers who delay school openings? 

Do you support striking teachers?  Or do their actions hurt students?   

[mymichelle2002]

You know.... As much as I'd love to see a beach to beach all out strike, the ONLY people that this would hurt are the kids.

[mamaof2angles]

Unlike other strikes when teachers strike the CHILDERN suffer, they dont get the quality education that they are supposed to receive.

[athenax3]

As is so often the case, I am two sided on this one- while I wouldn't want the children to ultimately suffer the consequences of a strike by teachers, I also feel that teachers are extremely undervalued, overworked and underpaid so can sympathize with thier frustrations.

[rotPferd]

I would think that most teachers knowingly go into teaching knowing that they aren't going to get paid the big bucks. They do it cuz they like kids and/or the subject they are teaching. So no I don't think they should strike for more pay when they probably knew ahead of time what the pay scale was.

[nbr1sahm]

I've posted about a similar subject before, and pretty much got pounded into the ground because of my stance on Teacher salary, benefits, and such and couldn't quite understand why Teachers think they have it so bad. There are only a HANDFUL of teachers these days who actually enter the profession because it is their 'calling' or whatever. The rest get their 4 year degree, find a job, and while teaching our children, are focused on the holiday's off, spring break, and optional 2 months of vacation over the summer. SHIT there is even a discount travel program for Teachers to take advantage of during their summers off! They get benefits, a annual raise, and their salary increases with further education. There are not many jobs these days that guarantee that. Teachers, like anyone else these days, should be glad they even have a job.

My response to teachers who strike? Suck it up and quit your sniveling! You knew before hand that you weren't going to get rich off of your chosen profession. What in the world makes you think going on strike and making the children in your school suffer the consequences is going to help the situation at all?

[morningdove831]

Quoting rotPferd:

I would think that most teachers knowingly go into teaching knowing that they aren't going to get paid the big bucks. They do it cuz they like kids and/or the subject they are teaching. So no I don't think they should strike for more pay when they probably knew ahead of time what the pay scale was.

I agree.  And it only hurts the children. 

[mymichelle2002]

Quoting nbr1sahm:

I've posted about a similar subject before, and pretty much got pounded into the ground because of my stance on Teacher salary, benefits, and such and couldn't quite understand why Teachers think they have it so bad. There are only a HANDFUL of teachers these days who actually enter the profession because it is their 'calling' or whatever. The rest get their 4 year degree, find a job, and while teaching our children, are focused on the holiday's off, spring break, and optional 2 months of vacation over the summer. SHIT there is even a discount travel program for Teachers to take advantage of during their summers off! They get benefits, a annual raise, and their salary increases with further education. There are not many jobs these days that guarantee that. Teachers, like anyone else these days, should be glad they even have a job.

My response to teachers who strike? Suck it up and quit your sniveling! You knew before hand that you weren't going to get rich off of your chosen profession. What in the world makes you think going on strike and making the children in your school suffer the consequences is going to help the situation at all?

WOW! That was pretty ignorant. Do you work for a living?

[nbr1sahm]

 

Quoting mymichelle2002:

 

Quoting nbr1sahm:

I've posted about a similar subject before, and pretty much got pounded into the ground because of my stance on Teacher salary, benefits, and such and couldn't quite understand why Teachers think they have it so bad. There are only a HANDFUL of teachers these days who actually enter the profession because it is their 'calling' or whatever. The rest get their 4 year degree, find a job, and while teaching our children, are focused on the holiday's off, spring break, and optional 2 months of vacation over the summer. SHIT there is even a discount travel program for Teachers to take advantage of during their summers off! They get benefits, a annual raise, and their salary increases with further education. There are not many jobs these days that guarantee that. Teachers, like anyone else these days, should be glad they even have a job.

My response to teachers who strike? Suck it up and quit your sniveling! You knew before hand that you weren't going to get rich off of your chosen profession. What in the world makes you think going on strike and making the children in your school suffer the consequences is going to help the situation at all?

WOW! That was pretty ignorant. Do you work for a living?

What exactly is so ignorant about my post? Ignorant means unknowing... what did I say that is so untrue? I know many individuals from college who went into teaching for the holidays and summers off. They do get annual raises, of which the percentage is indicated prior to hiring. The income potential does increase with education. There are travel discount programs available for educators. They have available to them medical and retirement benefits (to which even substitute teachers contribute regardless of whether or not they use it). Children are the ones who suffer in a strike... and YES, anyone who has a job in the current economy should be glad to have one.

I am a SAHM, although I'm not sure what difference that makes in your opinion of my reply. I have a B.S. and used to work prior to moving to a little ass town where jobs aren't so plentiful, and the jobs that are available barely cover the cost of child care. So please, go on and ask me where I get off...

 

[athenax3]

I am really surprised by the responses here that seem to indicate that teachers have no right to expect a living wage! While of course I presume they chose the profession because of their desire to teach children- I also presume they want to feed their own families as well and if they aren't earning enough to do that how can we expect them to continue to teach, and do we really want the bargain basement teachers for our kids?

For the respondent that stated teachers should "suck it up" it is my understanding that they have been doing so for quite some time, foregoing cost of living raises, working hours that are not included in their salaries and buying out of pocket many things they need for their students but the budget no longer covers- we will reap what we sow if we don't learn to value those with whom we have entrusted educating our children.

[nbr1sahm]

 

Quoting athenax3:

I am really surprised by the responses here that seem to indicate that teachers have no right to expect a living wage! While of course I presume they chose the profession because of their desire to teach children- I also presume they want to feed their own families as well and if they aren't earning enough to do that how can we expect them to continue to teach, and do we really want the bargain basement teachers for our kids?

For the respondent that stated teachers should "suck it up" it is my understanding that they have been doing so for quite some time, foregoing cost of living raises, working hours that are not included in their salaries and buying out of pocket many things they need for their students but the budget no longer covers- we will reap what we sow if we don't learn to value those with whom we have entrusted educating our children.

FYI, the point of my statement suggesting teachers "suck it up" was to say those who have a job should be grateful in this economy... an economy where many are lucky to keep roofs over their heads and food on the table.

With regard to your statement about a living wage... entry level positions for new teachers (most ranging in age from 21 to 24 years old) begin in the 30K range in most areas of the country... which is MORE than most new graduates can expect these days. By the time they are married and ready to have children, they could be making upward toward the low 40's depending on their level of education. Sure, they have to pay their way through a masters degree, but I don't see people screaming because Dr's (who pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for their education) don't get paid for their internships, and only an average of $40k for the first  year after that. I don't really see where the problem is.

What is the immediate benefit of a strike at the beginning of the school year? Unless there is some sort of SIGNIFICATE  cost of living increase in the region, there is no immediate benefit or need. What is the detriment to the children and their families? Well, lets see... children suffer due to missed classroom time. Parents are in a scramble to find childcare during school hours for their school aged children... child care that could possibly cost the parent upward toward $500 a month (we used to pay $125 a week).

So forgive me if I don't sympathise.