Reply #56: Thanks. [View All]

My union has been bowing down and taking whatever admins pass out for the 21 years I've been here. All admin has to do is hold "we're going to cut your benefits" over their heads, and they cave. The benefits issue has gotten bigger in the last few years, and now we are hearing that they're going to cut them anyway, regardless of any other issues. Part of the budget cuts coming down the pipe for next year. It's been a tense year; our reps had a big dust-up, some senior members quit the teams they were on, and our president is retiring on Tuesday. Part of the problem is that all union activities are time in addition to our regular jobs, and we're all tired and burnt out. We've all been doing plenty of "extra duties as necessary" outside our regular full-time jobs. And those extra duties take their toll on the quality of that regular job, which takes a toll in test scores, which ups the pressure. A circular firing squad. On my staff, 2 teachers are retiring early and two have begun 2nd masters program in different fields to start new careers. One quit this year since she just provides a secondary discretionary income, not the primary income in her family. They're leaving public ed behind them. I hope we'll at least see some hope, a light at the end of the tunnel in November.