Comments: Words of Wisdom About Teacher Pay and the Perils of Binding Arbitration: Guess the Speaker
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Politicians have a way of forgetting their principles and obvious truths when confronted with the tidal wave of cash and votes that big labor offers in Rhode Island. Unions gave RI politicians more money last election cycle than all businesses combined - but progressives "know" that the real threat is corporate America. I've yet to hear a coherent explanation from progressives of why unions would throw away so much money on politicians if it has little impact, as their narrative claims.
Posted by Dan at December 29, 2012 2:22 PM
So you think right now that teachers are overpaid? What is your idea of what pay should be?
Posted by David S at December 29, 2012 3:12 PM
David - My SO and both my parents are teachers, so no hate here, but ~50k is a very good starting salary for a liberal arts college graduate. That's even a good starting salary for graduating attorneys in this recession. Lots of open jobs, great benefits, a pension, ample sick/personal days, and money towards a masters degree is extremely generous - plus the summers off, so you are effectively making 20-30% more annually. Then you get automatic pay raises until you're sitting pretty at around $80k. The job isn't easy, but there are definitely worse and harder jobs out there. My SO says all the time she can't believe her coworkers complain with the deal they are getting. As a side note, we're happy to live in a right to work state so we can tell her union to shove it. We put the money we saved in union dues toward a downpayment on our house.
Posted by Dan at December 29, 2012 3:30 PM
Yes, RI teachers are overpaid--if you add in their benefits and pensions. More so if you compare pay to performance--but I fear that is only done in the private sector.
Politicians have a way of forgetting their principles and obvious truths when confronted with the tidal wave of cash and votes that big labor offers in Rhode Island. Unions gave RI politicians more money last election cycle than all businesses combined - but progressives "know" that the real threat is corporate America. I've yet to hear a coherent explanation from progressives of why unions would throw away so much money on politicians if it has little impact, as their narrative claims.
Posted by Dan at December 29, 2012 2:22 PMSo you think right now that teachers are overpaid? What is your idea of what pay should be?
Posted by David S at December 29, 2012 3:12 PMDavid - My SO and both my parents are teachers, so no hate here, but ~50k is a very good starting salary for a liberal arts college graduate. That's even a good starting salary for graduating attorneys in this recession. Lots of open jobs, great benefits, a pension, ample sick/personal days, and money towards a masters degree is extremely generous - plus the summers off, so you are effectively making 20-30% more annually. Then you get automatic pay raises until you're sitting pretty at around $80k. The job isn't easy, but there are definitely worse and harder jobs out there. My SO says all the time she can't believe her coworkers complain with the deal they are getting. As a side note, we're happy to live in a right to work state so we can tell her union to shove it. We put the money we saved in union dues toward a downpayment on our house.
Posted by Dan at December 29, 2012 3:30 PMYes, RI teachers are overpaid--if you add in their benefits and pensions. More so if you compare pay to performance--but I fear that is only done in the private sector.
Posted by Mike at December 31, 2012 12:36 PM