Who Are You Unionized Against?

The following comes from a fellow in Wisconsin named Tim. He posted it at the Wisconsin Education Association Council (aka Wisconsin Teachers Union) website. Tim is not a teacher, is employed in the private sector, and is one of the taxpayers who has to pay the teachers. What he says is a breath of reality and, I'm sure, not at all welcome by these entitled-to-their-entitlements protesting teachers and their union:


Tim 2/14/2011

It is really troubling to see what many of you are writing.

I am a private sector employee, lucky to have my job and to be able to feed, clothe and house my wife and four kids - all of which attend a public school. I have a modest income of $50,000 per year gross. Out of this income, I pay 100% of my insurance premiums for my $10,500 family deductible health insurance plan. I have no 401k and pensions haven't existed in my private sector industry for 25+ years. Like many of my coworkers, I have not seen a raise in the past several annual reviews. My company's revenues are down, and we middle class workers share in the down cycle.

My wife and I love the commitment of our kid's school teachers. We help and support them any way we can. But it is so difficult to hear the arguments and disdain against our family by all of you teachers.

WHO ARE YOU UNIONIZED AGAINST?

Do you think you are organized against Scott Walker? Really?

Wise up and understand that you are no different than any other middle class worker. We are all suffering.

Don't ask us to join you in rallying up against our elected officials. Instead, spend a bit of energy getting your facts straight. Ask your student's parents how much they earn per year, what they do to support their families and what type of insurance benefits and pension they enjoy. Did you know you can look up the salary and fringe benefit of any state employee using Data on Demand?

Find out how much you have been given in fringe pay (insurance, pension, vacation/sick days) each year. I think you will be startled when you realize your fringe pay is between 25 and 75% of your annual compensation.

Would it surprise you to hear that most private sector middle class employees earn "fringe pay" of less than 10% of their annual salary?

Would it surprise you to hear the average middle class health benefit today has a $3000 family deductible and no prescription benefit until that deductible is satisfied?

Would it surprise you to hear the true middle class of Wisconsin earns an average of $57k/yr including fringe benefits, while 70% of Wisconsin teachers earn compensation greater than $90k?

Stat: First year music teacher, Pulaski School District, full time salary is $35,600 Fringe Benefit $21,872 = total salary $57,472. Only teachers in their first 5 years of their career are truly middle class.

Did you ever consider that the reason you all feel so salary poor is because you are unusually benefit rich?

Did you ever consider that the money to pay for your "middle class" salary is coming from the middle class private sector?

Did you know that private sector employees are not able to bargain their salaries, hours, working conditions or benefits?

GO AHEAD AND PICKET WALKER. HOW COME YOU AREN'T ALSO PICKETING YOUR NEIGHBORS, THE PARENTS OF THE KIDS YOU TEACH, THE PASTOR OF YOUR CHURCH, THE AVERAGE JOE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. WHO ARE YOU UNIONIZED AGAINST?

Please, times are tough for all of us in the middle class. If you are not happy with the hand that has been dealt to you, please step aside and let one of the several thousand eager and willing recent graduates take your jobs. They don't share your overwhelming sense of entitlement. They are not malcontent, and they will not take it out on the parents and kids by threatening to strike if they don't get their fair share of the tax base.