The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
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- Nonlinear FC
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Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
I'm sure there are dozens and dozens of words where I've never questioned the origin like that.
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Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
I'll up the ante, I never knew that, and I am an employment lawyer.
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Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
Day 2 of the teachers' strike is happening tomorrow. Was really hoping it would end, but it looks like the Mayor, School Committee, and new superintendent are enjoying the pissing contest. With inflation and ridiculously rising insurance costs, this is going to get a lot more common. Personally, I'm still getting paid for now, but each day of the strike my summer vacation shrinks.
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
And it continues. 4 days and counting.
- cerranoredux
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Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
Sorry man. The article says that you guys have been without a contract only since September? What’s the real story because it might appear to many that NTA pulled that trigger a little quick? What were the other job actions? Was the union leadership getting tagged by admin or something? Or is it more “strike while the union iron is hot” logic?
Fucking puns.
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
I'm not part of the strike. I'm in a private program that pays rent to be in the school and we are locked out of the building during the strike for now. We also work closely with teachers and a lot of administrators, so I guess my official position is "why can't we all just get along." I get most information second hand, but what I've heard is the relatively new mayor and very new superintendent have refused to negotiate for over a year, saying this is the offer, take it or leave it. It's been ugly for awhile, way before the contract expired. Last spring an override ballot was rejected by voters and they eliminated a lot of support staff for elementary schools and drastically increased class size in the high schools. Now the Mayor is saying that if we give in to the demands, we'll have to lay off more staff. The counter argument is she did a terrible job with the city budget, including not touching a lot of COVID relief funds, so the money is there, supposedly. 98% of the union voted for the strike, which I think shows how frustrated teachers have been for awhile, and it seems most parents are supporting the teachers. My guess is the superintendent, mayor, and most of the school committee members will not be around after the next few elections.cerranoredux wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 8:39 pmSorry man. The article says that you guys have been without a contract only since September? What’s the real story because it might appear to many that NTA pulled that trigger a little quick? What were the other job actions? Was the union leadership getting tagged by admin or something? Or is it more “strike while the union iron is hot” logic?
Fucking puns.
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
Sorry romero. Those fines seem pretty persuasive, though.
I felt aswirl with warm secretions.
- Johnny Carwash
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Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
Best wishes, romero. Hope it works out for the best.
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Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
It sounds like the situation is pretty dire for a school system and the kids in it. I’m glad 98% of the staff is standing up for the community. Teachers know all too well how guilt over whether they’re doing enough for the kids can be exploited to extract more and more time and commitment than was literally bargained for.
It’s frustrating that we don’t put a premium on our public institutions because in our current system we can’t predict or quantify the collective benefit because it doesn’t show up as a line-item in our 401.K statements.
Hopefully the parent pressure works in favor of the staff this time and you can get back to what you’re supposed to do ASAP.
It’s frustrating that we don’t put a premium on our public institutions because in our current system we can’t predict or quantify the collective benefit because it doesn’t show up as a line-item in our 401.K statements.
Hopefully the parent pressure works in favor of the staff this time and you can get back to what you’re supposed to do ASAP.
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
Strike continues tomorrow and I ran out of bourbon. I'm having so many flashbacks to Covid times, where I eventually got laid off and ended up taking one of those low paying jobs they're striking about -- at one point I was working 8-6, making half of what I make now in the high paying field of day care, and I would say the majority of the people in those positions have masters degrees.. Anyway, I have so much shit to do -- we're switching databases with a tedious transfer of data and a lot to learn with the new cheaper, which probably means worse, database. And I'm supposed to get through progress reports, and have a Zoom meeting, which is all easy if I could actually put in a real 8 hours of work at home, but I am so pathetic working at home.
Back to the support staff thing. Most only work 30 hours a week, with summer off, so it makes sense they get paid little, but they're also the one-on-ones for special needs students, behavior therapists, and the people who do everything in the school...and every school system that I know is desperate to hire more..so maybe pay them a lot more.
But health insurance rates are sky rocketing which is killing budgets, which gets to my next drunken point. How stupid is it that we tie health insure to employment? My employer should have nothing to do with my healthcare. I'm guessing that everyone with a shitty job would quit if their employer didn't provide healthcare, so..good. With your healthcare not tied to employment, employers would have to find others ways to entice employees -- more pay and maybe Taco Tuesdays. Health insurance rates go up for businesses, they just increase prices..Health insurance rates go up for public workers, they need to increases taxes or give shittier healthcare to workers. The whole thing is stupid.
Back to the support staff thing. Most only work 30 hours a week, with summer off, so it makes sense they get paid little, but they're also the one-on-ones for special needs students, behavior therapists, and the people who do everything in the school...and every school system that I know is desperate to hire more..so maybe pay them a lot more.
But health insurance rates are sky rocketing which is killing budgets, which gets to my next drunken point. How stupid is it that we tie health insure to employment? My employer should have nothing to do with my healthcare. I'm guessing that everyone with a shitty job would quit if their employer didn't provide healthcare, so..good. With your healthcare not tied to employment, employers would have to find others ways to entice employees -- more pay and maybe Taco Tuesdays. Health insurance rates go up for businesses, they just increase prices..Health insurance rates go up for public workers, they need to increases taxes or give shittier healthcare to workers. The whole thing is stupid.
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
EdRomero wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 8:42 pm Strike continues tomorrow and I ran out of bourbon. I'm having so many flashbacks to Covid times, where I eventually got laid off and ended up taking one of those low paying jobs they're striking about -- at one point I was working 8-6, making half of what I make now in the high paying field of day care, and I would say the majority of the people in those positions have masters degrees.. Anyway, I have so much shit to do -- we're switching databases with a tedious transfer of data and a lot to learn with the new cheaper, which probably means worse, database. And I'm supposed to get through progress reports, and have a Zoom meeting, which is all easy if I could actually put in a real 8 hours of work at home, but I am so pathetic working at home.
Back to the support staff thing. Most only work 30 hours a week, with summer off, so it makes sense they get paid little, but they're also the one-on-ones for special needs students, behavior therapists, and the people who do everything in the school...and every school system that I know is desperate to hire more..so maybe pay them a lot more.
But health insurance rates are sky rocketing which is killing budgets, which gets to my next drunken point. How stupid is it that we tie health insure to employment? My employer should have nothing to do with my healthcare. I'm guessing that everyone with a shitty job would quit if their employer didn't provide healthcare, so..good. With your healthcare not tied to employment, employers would have to find others ways to entice employees -- more pay and maybe Taco Tuesdays. Health insurance rates go up for businesses, they just increase prices..Health insurance rates go up for public workers, they need to increases taxes or give shittier healthcare to workers. The whole thing is stupid.
btw - I'm sorry to hear this. That fucking sucks. But yeah:
...is spot on.How stupid is it that we tie health insure to employment? My employer should have nothing to do with my healthcare. I'm guessing that everyone with a shitty job would quit if their employer didn't provide healthcare, so..good. With your healthcare not tied to employment, employers would have to find others ways to entice employees -- more pay and maybe Taco Tuesdays. Health insurance rates go up for businesses, they just increase prices..Health insurance rates go up for public workers, they need to increases taxes or give shittier healthcare to workers. The whole thing is stupid.
Noli Timere Messorem
- govmentchedda
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Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
Yeah, 100%
Until everything is less insane, I'm mixing weed with wine.
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
I've often wondered why every chamber of commerce, business association, etc. isn't lobbying to get healthcare out of employers hands. My only guess is because it would probably mean higher taxes for the owners of the businesses.
I would like expensive whiskey.
We only have beer & wine...
What am I, 12?
We only have beer & wine...
What am I, 12?
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
I think you hit the nail on it’s head.
"What a bunch of pedantic pricks." - sybian
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
????
Employers do not want to pay employees healthcare any more than they want to match their 401k. Perhaps some tax benefits but no way that offsets the cost of the employee benefit.
Employers do not want to pay employees healthcare any more than they want to match their 401k. Perhaps some tax benefits but no way that offsets the cost of the employee benefit.
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
The point being that under the current system employers pay what they want or what they feel the market calls for. As GK said, employers sure as hell don’t want to pay a required amount through taxes.
"What a bunch of pedantic pricks." - sybian
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
But why would employer cuts in employee healthcare benefit costs result in more tax for employers. Maybe more accurately more tax but way less overall costs. Those costs would then be shifted to employees who would then pay 100% of whatever isn't subsidized by the govt and the govt tax increases to pay for presumed increased subsidies would fall primarily (or at least partially) back on employees through individual income taxes. Market theory would say employees would demand higher wages but we all know employees would only get back $0.60 of that dollar or less in wage increases. Even then probably only those industries that have to compete for talent.
Long way of saying that seems like the wrong tree if your interested in employee rights.
Long way of saying that seems like the wrong tree if your interested in employee rights.
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
Strike continues tomorrow. I chose a bad time to try to reduce drinking and being on the internet too much.
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
At least your access to free glue has been limited.
I felt aswirl with warm secretions.
- govmentchedda
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Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
Until everything is less insane, I'm mixing weed with wine.
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
I am missing the work supplies. My nox gear tubing snapped and I was ready to fix it with a hot glue gun and some duct tape at work. End this strike.
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
On to day 8 and I'm running out of vodka.
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
Still going. 11 school days and counting missed. School committee just canceled February Vacation; probably over half of Newton families have already committed to vacations or other programs (I'm also supposed to be in Florida that week too), so things are going great.
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Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
So sorry, Ed.EdRomero wrote: ↑Fri Feb 02, 2024 8:08 am Still going. 11 school days and counting missed. School committee just canceled February Vacation; probably over half of Newton families have already committed to vacations or other programs (I'm also supposed to be in Florida that week too), so things are going great.
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
If everyone is on vacation they will have to cancel school because they won't have any teachers or staff to man a building. Enjoy Florida.EdRomero wrote: ↑Fri Feb 02, 2024 8:08 am Still going. 11 school days and counting missed. School committee just canceled February Vacation; probably over half of Newton families have already committed to vacations or other programs (I'm also supposed to be in Florida that week too), so things are going great.
To quote both Bruce Prichard and Tony Schiavone, "Fuck Duff Meltzer."
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
Except parents are paying for after school care, for every school day, so if we are unable to provide care, do we need to give a refund. Not to mention that we agreed to pay everyone during the strike and nornamally our hourly wage people do not get paid during vacation weeks so that's gonna be wonderful for the budget. And then things will get very interesting at the end of June, when half the staff leave to work at camps.duff wrote: ↑Fri Feb 02, 2024 9:27 amIf everyone is on vacation they will have to cancel school because they won't have any teachers or staff to man a building. Enjoy Florida.EdRomero wrote: ↑Fri Feb 02, 2024 8:08 am Still going. 11 school days and counting missed. School committee just canceled February Vacation; probably over half of Newton families have already committed to vacations or other programs (I'm also supposed to be in Florida that week too), so things are going great.
At this point, I'm pissed at everyone. One, I don't think are has been one good article written about the situation. It's quotes and then a bunch of comments from people just fulfilling their twitter/reddit-fueled reality of the world. Maybe it's out there, but I'd like to know what percentage of Newton's budget goes to schools compared to similar cities, and compared to what percentage went to schools in Newton a few yeats ago. I'd like an honest explanation for why after school programs aren't allowed in the building even though their still paying for custodians and the after school programs have nothing to do with the strike (other than a few employees who work for both the school system and an after school program).
Instead, we just get a bunch of propaganda from the Mayor, who is emailing and robocalling families every night with this nonsense. Some of her recent highlights was her claiming the teachers stormed city hall, January 6th, style, despite lots of evidence of a peaceful protest. And then her reposting a letter saying why can't these greedy teachers end the strike and comparing the school budget to other city department budgets, without provide the context of the amount of employees and their roles in the town. The letter compared how much is spent for education with how much is spent for the board of health and public works. I don't know if the mayor is genuine in thinking she's being fiscally responsible, but it really looks like she just wants to build a strong union busting repuation. And the union and teachers are starting to look bad the longer this goes, but whenever I hear someone complain about them, I counter with imagine how awful town leadership is that 98% of the union decided to go without pay, lose valuable vacation time, take several steps back in the progress of their students (which, ignore the conservative internet commentator, teachers care a ton about) and ruin relationships with families. Only horrendous leadership and mistreatment from city leaders would cause such drastic action.
A lot of the teachers suck at this point too. I know one of the louder ones, and this person is full of themselves, knows better than everyone, and truly thinks he's changing the world with this strike, and these are the type of people we're hearing from the most. Strike to get treated better, but enough of these self-centered heroes with the we're being the beacon to improve society by forcing changes in schools and getting the lower paid people better. There are better ways of going about it without ruining life for everyone else. Bottom line is most if them get paid better than other teachers in the area. That doesn't change the fact that the city has been terrible to them for the last few years, but it does affect your martydom. Oh, and they printed flyers for going out to eat earlier in the week for when they were done picketing. Anti-union people are now posting how the teachers are having a pub crawl. Just a bunch of shitty people. /rant
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Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
long post/quote alert
I've been getting this labor-related newsletter from Hamilton Nolan for a while - of late I more than often don't read it because directlinetodepression but he leads with a picture of the Newton strike and as one who grew up in almost an entire extended family of teachers it has been hitting home.
Ed - I truly feel for you; of course it's ending up a mess and too often the lone loud/obnoxious voice doesn't always align with the strong and quiet majority.
Anyways the newsletter is posted below for your perusal - I put most of it under Spoiler just because it is so damn long but left in the closing paragraph.
I've been getting this labor-related newsletter from Hamilton Nolan for a while - of late I more than often don't read it because directlinetodepression but he leads with a picture of the Newton strike and as one who grew up in almost an entire extended family of teachers it has been hitting home.
Ed - I truly feel for you; of course it's ending up a mess and too often the lone loud/obnoxious voice doesn't always align with the strong and quiet majority.
Anyways the newsletter is posted below for your perusal - I put most of it under Spoiler just because it is so damn long but left in the closing paragraph.
Hamilton Nolan wrote: Getting Comfortable With Illegal Strikes
Laws are made up. "Nobody doing work" is real.
HAMILTON NOLAN
FEB 2
"This is the way"
Take comfort in the fact that many, many working people before you have engaged in illegal strikes, and they have won. Laws are important to the extent that they are accompanied by sanctions that must be taken seriously as part of a calculation about what will be required in order to win a strike. But they ain’t the final word. They are not the boss of you. Laws are made up. Not doing the work is real. Never lose sight of the source of your own labor power. The strike is capitalism’s Achilles Heel. Don’t let anyone take that away from you, ever.
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
Hope it works out for you. Been a while already. Newton is an interesting choice for a strike. some years ago the best largest school systems. a big city wealthy suburb. I cant think of any wealthier suburb that has a larger school population.
Is proposition 2 1/2 still a thing?
Is proposition 2 1/2 still a thing?
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
No matter how blustery the pro-labor/union person is. They are better than any of the administration of the school or the politicians. It sucks for those not getting paid. It sucks for the kids not being able to spend the days with learning and with their friends. It sucks for the parents that either have to miss work or hire child care. It doesn't suck for the politicians or the administration right now. It only sucks for them when they lose their seats. The best way to do that is continue to make them look like the idiots that they are. Fuck 'em. The education failure falls directly on their shoulders no matter how much they will try to pass the buck.
To quote both Bruce Prichard and Tony Schiavone, "Fuck Duff Meltzer."
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Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
i am strongly pro-duff.
\m/
\m/
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
yes, and Newton voted against it last spring. 20% of the population sends their kids to private schools, then you have older citizens sick of paying taxes and hearing shit about schools, and then you have your basic Republicans, and low voter turnout and you end up with overrides failing and shitty mayors.HaulCitgo wrote: ↑Fri Feb 02, 2024 10:30 am Hope it works out for you. Been a while already. Newton is an interesting choice for a strike. some years ago the best largest school systems. a big city wealthy suburb. I cant think of any wealthier suburb that has a larger school population.
Is proposition 2 1/2 still a thing?
Brookline is probably the most similar city locally, but nowhere as wealthy and probably a much bigger young/single population
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
Strike is over; back to work on Monday. Thanks for letting me vent here.
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
I’m happy for you. And, those were some entertaining rants.
"What a bunch of pedantic pricks." - sybian
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Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
Great to hear , Ed - glad for you.
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
Good news for a change.
Canadian International
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
Glad to hear
I felt aswirl with warm secretions.
Re: The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/ne ... m/3277846/While many schools across Massachusetts are closed Tuesday due to the storm, Newton Public Schools will be open.
Mayor Ruthanne Fuller confirmed that decision in an email early Tuesday morning.
Newton's superintendent said Monday that there were "constraints" on the school calendar and many of the "safety days" that are normally built into the schedule have already been taken because of the recent teachers' strike.
Fuller encouraged drivers to "take it slow when you're driving" and to "look out closely for others."
Looks like the storm is not supposed to be as bad as predicted, but this looks like a great excuse if there's an accident or two.
This is the same superintendent who canceled school last school year because it was too windy (and the day before December break).