MV teacher unionization effort?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question- if teachers want a union why not join dcps? Our union doesn’t make things all butterflies & unicorns but it gives us due process for firing, collective bargaining, and a pension. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

All of those things sound good but having a pension seems unreasonable. Very few employers offer a pension most of us are lucky to have a matching 401k or the Non-Profit equivalent.

More should offer pensions. The move to 401k’s has been a dismal failure for workers.

^this. Just because EMPLOYERS have chosen to move to 401ks doesn’t mean it’s a better deal for employees. Which one are you? Or are you just mad that some people get something you don’t? Getting a full pension takes a really long time. My hat’s off to anyone who sticks it out that long, especially in DCPS.

Anyway I really doubt funding a pension is the top priority for MV teachers. I’d guess wages and working conditions are at the top.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question- if teachers want a union why not join dcps? Our union doesn’t make things all butterflies & unicorns but it gives us due process for firing, collective bargaining, and a pension. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

All of those things sound good but having a pension seems unreasonable. Very few employers offer a pension most of us are lucky to have a matching 401k or the Non-Profit equivalent.

More should offer pensions. The move to 401k’s has been a dismal failure for workers.

^this. Just because EMPLOYERS have chosen to move to 401ks doesn’t mean it’s a better deal for employees. Which one are you? Or are you just mad that some people get something you don’t? Getting a full pension takes a really long time. My hat’s off to anyone who sticks it out that long, especially in DCPS.

Anyway I really doubt funding a pension is the top priority for MV teachers. I’d guess wages and working conditions are at the top.

Not mad at if someone has a pension or doesn't. I think 401k's are better given so many folks move around. Also, many states and companies are having short falls on their pension funds and folks are ending up with nothing. Where as 401ks and matched investments you can see the money and control how it is invested.
At any rate I do think teachers should have some type of union or representative at the table. When working hourly jobs I noticed the difference in union vrs non-union companies. Within professional white collar type of jobs I have not experienced it very often nor noticed a benifit.
But it does seem like many charters around here get away with lower wages and benifits. And they go through teachers quickly.. Sadly students/families can't demand better because 100+ people will take you charter spot if you don't want it..

Best of luck to the MV teachers. I hope they get the working conditions and benifits they want and that are fair for their industry.

[Anonymous]

Every DC government employee is eligible for a pension. So DCPS teachers are too.

No one has shared what the MV staff’s goals are if they decide to bargain collectively. But treating teachers as professionals and stakeholders would strengthen MV in the long run.

[Anonymous]

Is there a limit in DC law on how many days teachers can strike?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question- if teachers want a union why not join dcps? Our union doesn’t make things all butterflies & unicorns but it gives us due process for firing, collective bargaining, and a pension. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

All of those things sound good but having a pension seems unreasonable. Very few employers offer a pension most of us are lucky to have a matching 401k or the Non-Profit equivalent.

More should offer pensions. The move to 401k’s has been a dismal failure for workers.

^this. Just because EMPLOYERS have chosen to move to 401ks doesn’t mean it’s a better deal for employees. Which one are you? Or are you just mad that some people get something you don’t? Getting a full pension takes a really long time. My hat’s off to anyone who sticks it out that long, especially in DCPS.

Anyway I really doubt funding a pension is the top priority for MV teachers. I’d guess wages and working conditions are at the top.

Not mad at if someone has a pension or doesn't. I think 401k's are better given so many folks move around. Also, many states and companies are having short falls on their pension funds and folks are ending up with nothing. Where as 401ks and matched investments you can see the money and control how it is invested.
At any rate I do think teachers should have some type of union or representative at the table. When working hourly jobs I noticed the difference in union vrs non-union companies. Within professional white collar type of jobs I have not experienced it very often nor noticed a benifit.
But it does seem like many charters around here get away with lower wages and benifits. And they go through teachers quickly.. Sadly students/families can't demand better because 100+ people will take you charter spot if you don't want it..

Best of luck to the MV teachers. I hope they get the working conditions and benifits they want and that are fair for their industry.

Charters are funded at 70% of DCPS. They're not "getting away" with anything. They're doing the best they can with limited resources. DCPS teacher pensions are funded outside the UPSFF (over $80 million dollars this year), building maintenance is funded outside the UPSFF ($26 million dollars this year), charters pay 6.5% social security tax on teacher salaries (DCPS is exempt because of the pension). And let's be clear - the teacher's unions don't give a care for charter teachers - they want charters to close or come back into the traditional school system. It's unfortunate that the Mundo teachers have been duped by AFT's slick promises of change when really all they do is make things worse. Want a union? Go work in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a limit in DC law on how many days teachers can strike?

Have DC teachers ever gone on strike? For that matter, when have any unionized DC employees gone on strike?

Federal law governs strikes. There are, however, limits to what workers can strike over and employees who go on strike are not entitled to pay. Workers rarely strike unless it is for serious disagreements https://www.nlrb.gov/strikes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a limit in DC law on how many days teachers can strike?

We can’t strike. No strike clause

[Anonymous]

Actually/ I’m attaching a copy of the contract. It might be helpful, especially for those who feel negatively about teachers unions to read it. It might confirm your belief or challenge it. It’s fairly basic stuff. & no strike is one page 93
http://www.wtulocal6.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/WTU-DCPS-contract.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question- if teachers want a union why not join dcps? Our union doesn’t make things all butterflies & unicorns but it gives us due process for firing, collective bargaining, and a pension. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

All of those things sound good but having a pension seems unreasonable. Very few employers offer a pension most of us are lucky to have a matching 401k or the Non-Profit equivalent.

More should offer pensions. The move to 401k’s has been a dismal failure for workers.

^this. Just because EMPLOYERS have chosen to move to 401ks doesn’t mean it’s a better deal for employees. Which one are you? Or are you just mad that some people get something you don’t? Getting a full pension takes a really long time. My hat’s off to anyone who sticks it out that long, especially in DCPS.

Anyway I really doubt funding a pension is the top priority for MV teachers. I’d guess wages and working conditions are at the top.

Not mad at if someone has a pension or doesn't. I think 401k's are better given so many folks move around. Also, many states and companies are having short falls on their pension funds and folks are ending up with nothing. Where as 401ks and matched investments you can see the money and control how it is invested.
At any rate I do think teachers should have some type of union or representative at the table. When working hourly jobs I noticed the difference in union vrs non-union companies. Within professional white collar type of jobs I have not experienced it very often nor noticed a benifit.
But it does seem like many charters around here get away with lower wages and benifits. And they go through teachers quickly.. Sadly students/families can't demand better because 100+ people will take you charter spot if you don't want it..

Best of luck to the MV teachers. I hope they get the working conditions and benifits they want and that are fair for their industry.

Charters are funded at 70% of DCPS. They're not "getting away" with anything. They're doing the best they can with limited resources. DCPS teacher pensions are funded outside the UPSFF (over $80 million dollars this year), building maintenance is funded outside the UPSFF ($26 million dollars this year), charters pay 6.5% social security tax on teacher salaries (DCPS is exempt because of the pension). And let's be clear - the teacher's unions don't give a care for charter teachers - they want charters to close or come back into the traditional school system. It's unfortunate that the Mundo teachers have been duped by AFT's slick promises of change when really all they do is make things worse. Want a union? Go work in DCPS.

You are spot on. Let's advocate for the Mayor and Council to make a way for charter teachers to participate in the pension. At my charter school, the teachers who came from DCPS are still able to participate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:. Let's advocate for the Mayor and Council to make a way for charter teachers to participate in the pension. At my charter school, the teachers who came from DCPS are still able to participate.

Just to clarify: The charter school has to pay for the teachers to continue to participate in the pension. In other words, the funding inequity remains -- the pension funds for those DCPS-to-charter teachers comes from the charter's per-pupil funds, but is funded separately from DCPS's per-pupil funds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question- if teachers want a union why not join dcps? Our union doesn’t make things all butterflies & unicorns but it gives us due process for firing, collective bargaining, and a pension. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

All of those things sound good but having a pension seems unreasonable. Very few employers offer a pension most of us are lucky to have a matching 401k or the Non-Profit equivalent.

More should offer pensions. The move to 401k’s has been a dismal failure for workers.

^this. Just because EMPLOYERS have chosen to move to 401ks doesn’t mean it’s a better deal for employees. Which one are you? Or are you just mad that some people get something you don’t? Getting a full pension takes a really long time. My hat’s off to anyone who sticks it out that long, especially in DCPS.

Anyway I really doubt funding a pension is the top priority for MV teachers. I’d guess wages and working conditions are at the top.

Not mad at if someone has a pension or doesn't. I think 401k's are better given so many folks move around. Also, many states and companies are having short falls on their pension funds and folks are ending up with nothing. Where as 401ks and matched investments you can see the money and control how it is invested.
At any rate I do think teachers should have some type of union or representative at the table. When working hourly jobs I noticed the difference in union vrs non-union companies. Within professional white collar type of jobs I have not experienced it very often nor noticed a benifit.
But it does seem like many charters around here get away with lower wages and benifits. And they go through teachers quickly.. Sadly students/families can't demand better because 100+ people will take you charter spot if you don't want it..

Best of luck to the MV teachers. I hope they get the working conditions and benifits they want and that are fair for their industry.

Charters are funded at 70% of DCPS. They're not "getting away" with anything. They're doing the best they can with limited resources. DCPS teacher pensions are funded outside the UPSFF (over $80 million dollars this year), building maintenance is funded outside the UPSFF ($26 million dollars this year), charters pay 6.5% social security tax on teacher salaries (DCPS is exempt because of the pension). And let's be clear - the teacher's unions don't give a care for charter teachers - they want charters to close or come back into the traditional school system. It's unfortunate that the Mundo teachers have been duped by AFT's slick promises of change when really all they do is make things worse. Want a union? Go work in DCPS.

You are spot on. Let's advocate for the Mayor and Council to make a way for charter teachers to participate in the pension. At my charter school, the teachers who came from DCPS are still able to participate.

The DCPS Teacher's Retirement Plan is not in good shape - and few teachers - if any - in this day and age - teach long enough to reap the benefits of a traditional pension. There's a retirement crisis - finding a cross-sector solution that is equitably funded by the city would be amazing. That said, I'm 99.9% sure that's NOT increasing participation in the pension.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question- if teachers want a union why not join dcps? Our union doesn’t make things all butterflies & unicorns but it gives us due process for firing, collective bargaining, and a pension. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

All of those things sound good but having a pension seems unreasonable. Very few employers offer a pension most of us are lucky to have a matching 401k or the Non-Profit equivalent.

More should offer pensions. The move to 401k’s has been a dismal failure for workers.

^this. Just because EMPLOYERS have chosen to move to 401ks doesn’t mean it’s a better deal for employees. Which one are you? Or are you just mad that some people get something you don’t? Getting a full pension takes a really long time. My hat’s off to anyone who sticks it out that long, especially in DCPS.

Anyway I really doubt funding a pension is the top priority for MV teachers. I’d guess wages and working conditions are at the top.

Not mad at if someone has a pension or doesn't. I think 401k's are better given so many folks move around. Also, many states and companies are having short falls on their pension funds and folks are ending up with nothing. Where as 401ks and matched investments you can see the money and control how it is invested.
At any rate I do think teachers should have some type of union or representative at the table. When working hourly jobs I noticed the difference in union vrs non-union companies. Within professional white collar type of jobs I have not experienced it very often nor noticed a benifit.
But it does seem like many charters around here get away with lower wages and benifits. And they go through teachers quickly.. Sadly students/families can't demand better because 100+ people will take you charter spot if you don't want it..

Best of luck to the MV teachers. I hope they get the working conditions and benifits they want and that are fair for their industry.

Charters are funded at 70% of DCPS. They're not "getting away" with anything. They're doing the best they can with limited resources. DCPS teacher pensions are funded outside the UPSFF (over $80 million dollars this year), building maintenance is funded outside the UPSFF ($26 million dollars this year), charters pay 6.5% social security tax on teacher salaries (DCPS is exempt because of the pension). And let's be clear - the teacher's unions don't give a care for charter teachers - they want charters to close or come back into the traditional school system. It's unfortunate that the Mundo teachers have been duped by AFT's slick promises of change when really all they do is make things worse. Want a union? Go work in DCPS.

You are spot on. Let's advocate for the Mayor and Council to make a way for charter teachers to participate in the pension. At my charter school, the teachers who came from DCPS are still able to participate.

The DCPS Teacher's Retirement Plan is not in good shape - and few teachers - if any - in this day and age - teach long enough to reap the benefits of a traditional pension. There's a retirement crisis - finding a cross-sector solution that is equitably funded by the city would be amazing. That said, I'm 99.9% sure that's NOT increasing participation in the pension.

DCPS also offers ways for teachers to contribute to individual retirement accounts (i.e. 401a, 457). You are fully vested after 5 years.

If you leave DCPS for another job, you can get a lump sum payout, or a deferred retirement award. https://dcps.dc.gov/page/retirement-faqs

[Anonymous]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/teachers-at-a-dc-charter-school-are-trying-to-unionize-in-a-rare-move/2019/04/23/3b1d9568-652c-11e9-a1b6-b29b90efa879_story.html?fbclid=IwAR1tznL4FNd1M-B-QjfmVzxvEKzmAFalujcmp_R4mMNlDoQNeQXc0rphMCE&utm_term=.de3ec29c8a87

[Anonymous]

What are the teachers unhappy with?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the teachers unhappy with?

From the Post article, it sounds like they feel they don’t have enough support to do their job, and want more of a voice in how the school is run.

What that often translates to in a unionized workplace are things like student/teacher ratio caps, negotiating the length of the workday and probably standardized salary bands.