First impacts of tariffs

[Cougar_Guy]

I have a lot of friend who are "educators" (they're not teachers anymore, get with it!) They have been brainwashed by the union that unless they strike every three years the work conditions will rival those detailed by Upton Sinclair. As a bonus, there are no metrics or standards for whether or not you're a good teacher, or hell... how about just a metric if you're a bad teacher so we can get rid of those. There's this overriding hive-mind that because they are there punching a clock and (some) have some take home work that they are actually doing something positive, which might be the case if there were an actual curriculum (there isn't in the state of WA, but then again that might be a blessing.) And FWIW, I adore these teachers I know, and I believe they work very hard at what they do. Many of them are hand-cuffed by policies that remove all accountability from students, and bars that have been lowered so far that kids hardly have to show up to get passing grades.

Its a sad situation that in entrenched in decades of poor policy and misguided leadership, all beholden to the almighty union.

This study has Washington ranked #4 in public education. https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/washington-public-education-study Washington usually enjoys a solid ranking in assessments of the education system. That's not to say there are no issues to resolve, but it's just uninformed to act like Washington has a bottom quartile education system.

I never understand why people decry unions. They are not perfect, as no institution is, but they are one of the few vehicles that allow working class people to have a voice and an impact in their workplace outcomes. Unions represent a crucial tool for achieving fairness, dignity, and security in the workplace, and it's no surprise that the decline of the middle class has coincided with a decline in union membership. It's also no shock that wealthy business owners like Musk or the Walton family or Bezos have worked so manically to keep their labor forces from unionizing because it would diminish their complete authoritarian rule over their companies. This is sad because well run unions and a healthy labor/management relationship actually help increase worker productivity and boost production overall.

 

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

This study has Washington ranked #4 in public education. https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/washington-public-education-study Washington usually enjoys a solid ranking in assessments of the education system. That's not to say there are no issues to resolve, but it's just uninformed to act like Washington has a bottom quartile education system.

I never understand why people decry unions. They are not perfect, as no institution is, but they are one of the few vehicles that allow working class people to have a voice and an impact in their workplace outcomes. Unions represent a crucial tool for achieving fairness, dignity, and security in the workplace, and it's no surprise that the decline of the middle class has coincided with a decline in union membership. It's also no shock that wealthy business owners like Musk or the Walton family or Bezos have worked so manically to keep their labor forces from unionizing because it would diminish their complete authoritarian rule over their companies. This is sad because well run unions and a healthy labor/management relationship actually help increase worker productivity and boost production overall.

well there is the rub.

Show me a well run union. Of they were altruistic as you claim they wouldn't be run buy people making 6 figures.

 

[KRUSTYtheCOUG]

well there is the rub.

Show me a well run union. Of they were altruistic as you claim they wouldn't be run buy people making 6 figures.

NBA and MLB have pretty strong unions. As do the police and fire depts. Taihtsat

 

[Stretch 74]

This study has Washington ranked #4 in public education. https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/washington-public-education-study Washington usually enjoys a solid ranking in assessments of the education system. That's not to say there are no issues to resolve, but it's just uninformed to act like Washington has a bottom quartile education system.

I never understand why people decry unions. They are not perfect, as no institution is, but they are one of the few vehicles that allow working class people to have a voice and an impact in their workplace outcomes. Unions represent a crucial tool for achieving fairness, dignity, and security in the workplace, and it's no surprise that the decline of the middle class has coincided with a decline in union membership. It's also no shock that wealthy business owners like Musk or the Walton family or Bezos have worked so manically to keep their labor forces from unionizing because it would diminish their complete authoritarian rule over their companies. This is sad because well run unions and a healthy labor/management relationship actually help increase worker productivity and boost production overall.

Wow, #4! Kinda like almost winning the tallest midget contest, isn't it? And going right back to the key issue I pointed out, the union isn't concerned about the welfare and best interest of the kids. And maybe WA could actually be #1 in the country if they were not wasting all those full days of instruction with their union demanded bullshit seminars/workshops.

BTW, one real negative I forgot to include about all those half days is the effects on parents. A normal week with 5 full days of instruction allows them to plan for normal transportation and the necessary child care. Half days screws that all up, forcing some parents to take time off from their own, make special arrangements that costs them money, or even leave the kids on their own, exposing them to possible danger. No union concern there at all.

Unions were something that was needed long ago. Today many arguments for unions are outdated, as such things like safety issues are now controlled and dictated by the government. And unions prospered in the old days when there were the company towns and there was not a lot of options to choose from as far as companies to work for. Today with the internet the possible options are greatly expanded, and competition for workers drives wages.

Teacher's unions are a particular irritant. As state employees, they end up funneling bushels of money to the political campaigns of the same people that decide the school funding. Conflict of interest much? And then what happens when they ILLEGALLY go on strike? (It is against the law in WA) Do they lose any wages? Do they get fined? Nope. Unlike when private sector workers go on strike and lose the wages for every day that they are gone from the workplace, the teachers never get fined (chickenshit district administrators and judges) and they end up getting their full pay. It is quite the racket.

I speak from experience. I hired into Boeing as a painter (IAM 751 hourly worker) for my first year there. Started early July and they went on strike October3rd, lasted 45 days. No making up those wages for Stretch, no sirree. Good thing I was able to make it through by doing a few side jobs, but I never made up those lost dollars.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

This study has Washington ranked #4 in public education. https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/washington-public-education-study Washington usually enjoys a solid ranking in assessments of the education system. That's not to say there are no issues to resolve, but it's just uninformed to act like Washington has a bottom quartile education system.

I never understand why people decry unions. They are not perfect, as no institution is, but they are one of the few vehicles that allow working class people to have a voice and an impact in their workplace outcomes. Unions represent a crucial tool for achieving fairness, dignity, and security in the workplace, and it's no surprise that the decline of the middle class has coincided with a decline in union membership. It's also no shock that wealthy business owners like Musk or the Walton family or Bezos have worked so manically to keep their labor forces from unionizing because it would diminish their complete authoritarian rule over their companies. This is sad because well run unions and a healthy labor/management relationship actually help increase worker productivity and boost production overall.

Hey Cougar Guy. 20 posts in 14 years? Stop by this loony bin more often.

That said, no, public employee unions are shit. In Washington, they make big bucks and get great pension and medical benefits. Starting salary for a novice K12 teacher? I think about $70K these days, for an 8.5-month job. all summers and every f-ing holiday known to man off? And our math scores are dropping? And they go on strike anyway? Why?

 

[froropmkr72]

Hey Cougar Guy. 20 posts in 14 years? Stop by this loony bin more often.

That said, no, public employee unions are shit. In Washington, they make big bucks and get great pension and medical benefits. Starting salary for a novice K12 teacher? I think about $70K these days, for an 8.5-month job. all summers and every f-ing holiday known to man off? And our math scores are dropping? And they go on strike anyway? Why?

Wow, have to say nice going. What do you think of charter schools?