[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Betting on Double Zero

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Betting on Double Zero
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1244294079.shtml


   There are a number of public school districts with union K-12 teacher
   contracts expiring this month, including my own Robbinsdale Area
   Schools. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the [1]Forest Lake
   district has just completed their negotiations for the next two years.

     In what might be the first of such Twin Cities-area agreements this
     year, Forest Lake teachers agreed May 27 to a two-year contract
     that gives them no cost-of-living salary increases for either
     2009-2010 or 2010-2011.
     ...
     "It always seems like the first settlement is what the trend
     becomes," said Mike Roseen, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school
     board chairman. "If Forest Lake settles for zero-zero, I'm guessing
     that's going to be closer to the norm than not."

   I think the Forest Lake teachers have a pretty smart union. Given the
   still largely uncertain, still declining economy, no increase beats
   layoffs and actual pay cuts. You may remember that when in Florida
   last year, [2]teachers there were facing a 2 percent cut, support
   staff up to 6 percent. It's good business for the union, and good
   press, too.
   The Robbinsdale Federation of Teachers and all the other locals would
   do well to follow suit. Murky as school finance always is, I don't see
   any money available for increases in 281 either.

References

   1. http://www.startribune.com/local/east/47107512.html
   2. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1209992286.shtml