You are correct that you did not say that teachers were overpaid. But, someone did and set Ferd off like a rocket. (I mean he was on fire. ) That's all I was saying.


Everyone agrees that the current way of doing business can't continue. everyone knows the deficit is unsustainable and everyone has to tighten their belts. (The Wisconsin workers have agreed to the governors financial demands.) But, the question is, can it continue with public sector workers having union representation?

I think the mods have let this discussion go on because it is an important question for us as members of a private sector union.

Personally, I think the country and states can function with having to deal with and negotiate with public sector unions. They have been doing it for a very long time. To me, to suggest that states having to negotiate with public sector unions is the source of our problems, is a complete cop out. Typical, of so many politicians nowadays, they want to blame everyone but themselves. They spent the money over they years and paying a teacher $70,000 after 40 years did not break their budget.

It's much the same way that we argue that it isn't pilots salaries that break the airlines budget, isn't it?

Public sector unions and their collective bargaining rights should not be targeted as the source of the problem because you as a tax payer pay the state taxes and want lower taxes, just as our union and collective bargaining rights should not be targeted when we negotiate with the company because customers pay the airline and they want cheaper tickets.

Until someone can explain to me in a meaningful way how (outside provisions of the U.S. Constitution) states have to treat public employees any differently than corporations have to treat employees when negotiating and bargaining pay and benefits, that is what I believe.

New K