Christie offers teachers wage-freeze incentive

[fiberisgoodforyou]

TRENTON — After months of criticizing the teachers' union for refusing to sacrifice benefits as the state grapples with the biggest per-person deficit in the country, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is now offering school districts an incentive to force the teachers' hand.

Christie told The Associated Press in an interview that he will offer more state aid to all school districts whose teachers agree to a wage freeze for the 2011 fiscal year.

Christie said nearly one in 10 New Jerseyans are out of work, but teachers are getting up to 4 percent annual raises … far higher than the rate of inflation.

www.app.com/article/20100330/NEWS03/100330001/Governor-Christie-offers-schools-wage-freeze-incentive

This is an interesting read, Christie is sending a message to schoolbaords that they can either be responsive to the needs of the tax payers, or responsive to the demands of the NJEA.

How is a raise that effects an increase in taxes, a raise?

[richardkelsey]

Mar 30, 2010 12:04:00 GMT -5 fiberisgoodforyou said:

TRENTON — After months of criticizing the teachers' union for refusing to sacrifice benefits as the state grapples with the biggest per-person deficit in the country, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is now offering school districts an incentive to force the teachers' hand.

Christie told The Associated Press in an interview that he will offer more state aid to all school districts whose teachers agree to a wage freeze for the 2011 fiscal year.

Christie said nearly one in 10 New Jerseyans are out of work, but teachers are getting up to 4 percent annual raises … far higher than the rate of inflation.

www.app.com/article/20100330/NEWS03/100330001/Governor-Christie-offers-schools-wage-freeze-incentive

This is an interesting read, Christie is sending a message to schoolbaords that they can either be responsive to the needs of the tax payers, or responsive to the demands of the NJEA.

How is a raise that effects an increase in taxes, a raise?

This is an interesting. Often, the NJEA uses these disputes to frame its opponents as being anti-education or anti-teacher. Moreover, they freely use children as pawns and often play to the heart strings of those less hardy of mind by claiming that spending is "for the children."

This proposal puts the teachers squarely at odds with that concept. It is saying, choose a pay freeze and the difference in the freeze will actually be used "for the children" in your district. Moreover, as Christie hints, savings could be used to keep additional teachers.

So -- it seems the NJEA can choose to vote "for the children" or for junior union members -- or to protect senior teacher salary increases at the expense of the children.

It is a politically interesting move.

Maybe the NJEA can stop spending money on TV commercials attacking the Governor -- and instead give that money back to the teachers it holds hostage. Those teachers then, can, in turn, give back to the district by doing their part to save NJ from the brink of financial disaster.

[BrianSullivan]

Mar 30, 2010 14:35:07 GMT -5 richardkelsey said:

Mar 30, 2010 12:04:00 GMT -5 fiberisgoodforyou said:

TRENTON — After months of criticizing the teachers' union for refusing to sacrifice benefits as the state grapples with the biggest per-person deficit in the country, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is now offering school districts an incentive to force the teachers' hand.

Christie told The Associated Press in an interview that he will offer more state aid to all school districts whose teachers agree to a wage freeze for the 2011 fiscal year.

Christie said nearly one in 10 New Jerseyans are out of work, but teachers are getting up to 4 percent annual raises … far higher than the rate of inflation.

www.app.com/article/20100330/NEWS03/100330001/Governor-Christie-offers-schools-wage-freeze-incentive

This is an interesting read, Christie is sending a message to schoolbaords that they can either be responsive to the needs of the tax payers, or responsive to the demands of the NJEA.

How is a raise that effects an increase in taxes, a raise?

This is an interesting. Often, the NJEA uses these disputes to frame its opponents as being anti-education or anti-teacher. Moreover, they freely use children as pawns and often play to the heart strings of those less hardy of mind by claiming that spending is "for the children."

This proposal puts the teachers squarely at odds with that concept. It is saying, choose a pay freeze and the difference in the freeze will actually be used "for the children" in your district. Moreover, as Christie hints, savings could be used to keep additional teachers.

So -- it seems the NJEA can choose to vote "for the children" or for junior union members -- or to protect senior teacher salary increases at the expense of the children.

It is a politically interesting move.

Maybe the NJEA can stop spending money on TV commercials attacking the Governor -- and instead give that money back to the teachers it holds hostage. Those teachers then, can, in turn, give back to the district by doing their part to save NJ from the brink of financial disaster.

Christy has come out very strong and unapologetic about what he needs to do. It is very refreshing. He is making all the right enemies.

[lisas84]

Brian, you are correct in your first sentence. Governor Christie exudes conviction. The state of conviction is one that is absolute, there is no doubt or fear.

The guy signed up for what I believe is currently the suckiest job in the U.S. I hope the stress doesn't knock him out.